I was awakened early in the morning by a long-time user's distress message—another OTC trading scam. This time, the scheme is much more covert than common fake trading platforms or false deposits, and the trap is deeper.

Here's what happened. The user met an OTC merchant called "Xiao Ling 24 Hours Online" in a certain community. The first few small transactions went smoothly—fast payments and enthusiastic attitude, gradually lowering the user's guard. This time, they were about to sell a mainstream crypto asset. The other party promptly accepted the order, quoting a price slightly above market value. The user thought it was fine and agreed.

The problem arose during the payment process. In the payment screenshot sent by the other party, the recipient account indeed had the user's name, but the payer was a completely unfamiliar account. This raised the user's suspicion—rather than releasing the coins immediately, they checked the account transaction history themselves. The money was indeed received, but something felt off. The user tried to contact the other party to confirm details, but received no response. Half an hour later, the avatar turned gray, messages were blocked, and the scammer disappeared completely.

Some might ask: the money has already arrived, so what if the other party runs off? Here's where the trap is deep. Behind the seemingly safe "funds received" message, there are chain reactions like anti-money laundering monitoring, fund freezes, and police intervention. The essence of OTC trading is peer-to-peer transactions. Once abnormal fund flows are involved, your account may face risk assessments or even withdrawal restrictions.

The hallmark features of such scams: establishing false trust (multiple small transactions) → inducing large transactions → creating confusion through payment information discrepancies → finally running away. The most painful part is that victims are often experienced traders who let their guard down after a few transactions.

The key points for prevention are simple: verify the identity of both payer and payee through double confirmation, don't rely solely on screenshots; immediately pause if the transaction process is abnormal (e.g., payment from an unfamiliar account); building trust does not mean lowering vigilance—every large transaction should be treated as if it were the first. The convenience of OTC trading comes with high risks. Mastering these details is essential to truly protect your assets.