Ahh sh*t! So sorry that this has happened. It does indeed bring into question the whole trust thing, especially if the scammer has enough forward planning to build up a high enough trading reputation to appear legitimate and trustworthy.
No real easy answer to stopping this happening, I was thinking of the person with the lower trading reputation HAVING to post their goods first/pay first, as we see every now and then with new sellers (whichever way the trade is working), but by building up the feedback prior to the scam, a rogue trader could cheat that, just as has been done here. I can't think of a failsafe solution when we are buying blind and essentially from anonymous people.
Bad state of affairs, I just can't understand cheaters and scammers living with themselves after ripping off innocent ordinary people.
I am genuinely upset that the whole ethos behind this wonderful forum has been brought into question and am very happy to offer a donation equivalent to the value of an ounce of silver (in lieu of no 1ozs of silver to donate!), if a central donation account could be organised for this purpose.
Good luck in your quest for recompense, if nothing comes if it, I will gladly donate.❤️❤️
Sorry, I just noticed that @BackyardBullion has indeed mentioned cash donations on the above thread. I will visit to help forthwith👍👍