I was going to piggy back this onto one of the give away threads but I think that may expose my genuine request to the wrong people.

There seems to have been quite a few issues with give always and trading lately (admittedly I am a n00b here). Dose anyone have any advice about trying to ensure its long term members that are offered the giveaway? And not some random new person who signed up for anything they can get / scam people?

It’s difficult asking this on a forum where these people can also reply but I am not sure what to do. I also admit that anything i could currently give away probably wouldn’t interest the old(er) hands. Further I admit anything im considering trading for via a gog game of their choice may also not interest old hands.

Anyone got a bone to throw at this n00b?

EDIT: ALSO anyone have any advice for trading - or does the same advice apply?
ive come into some extra keys due to a bundle purchase.

Simply check thei rep and joining date :)

low rep means the person has an unpopular opinion. could still be a great trader/gifter.

reg date is a bit more reliable. at least then it's not a hit-and-runner.

You put limits on game - like "you must have this much rep" or "your account has to be this old". And that's enough.

As Big_Boss said, you can look at a persons Join date and reputation (under their name) thats the best way, you can also specify that people must have joined before a certain time but that is open to people going in for it anyway. (you still have to check)

If someone approaches you via PM with no warning use caution.

Ooops, cat jumped on the keyboard. Please disregard!

awh but i really want to know!

also can anyone give me any advice for trading i have some extra steam keys (bundle was cheaper) but lately there has been a lot of fuss lately so is there any other advice anyone can give me or does the same apply?

No you don't. :P It wasn't my cat; I had two threads open and accidentally posted in the wrong one. I think what I deleted was a giveaway entry or something silly. I suck at multi-tasking.

the world of pc's! :) - ive done much worse!

I would suggest holding on to the codes till you have enough rep to enter the steamgifts group, that is likely the easiest way

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/steamgiftscom_gog_gift_club_v3

http://www.gog.com/forum/general/steamgiftscom_gog_gift_club_v3_giveaways

But please read the rules on the opening post of the first link

ooo i like that, that seems the safest way! cant imagine anyone ripping anyone else off in there!

Yeah. what he said. anybody who doesn't meet those requirements and enters anyway was warned and you simply don't enter into random.org or dq thier posts for judging or however your givaway ends up working

ok thanks thats defo what im going to do with giveaways then.

im trying to find that post over the email / gloat / photochopped conversations - could someone PM me it (not post i dont want anyone getting in trouble). search isnt finding it!

Reg date and low rep could mean that he registred for whatever reason and never bothered with the website, and likely has no qualms about lowballing/harassing/scamming you. If, however, he's indeed a long time trader who happens to avoid the forums (and I do know at least one case of that), or for whatever reason gets downrepped a lot, then you could ask him to give you a list of users that he has traded in the past. Then you could check with the said users to see if he really is a trustable trader.

Bottom line, while there are many useful tools to avoid being scammed, it's never a 100% safe deal.

Those are very few and far between though, they usually register to get the free games and maybe a couple purchases (or to scam someone early on), then leave with their loot and don't come back. Except for Weclock, I don't know of anyone who drops in for just a few minutes once every few months (then again, Weclock was a regular for a good while before he became an irregular).