Deleted

You can buy the game for $20 on grey market sites.
Seems to me like you're a masochist dealing with any sort of trades to get a copy for that same price.

Unfortunately trades are always risky now, you really have to trade within established groups or obviously with people you know already. I personally don't bother with trades anymore unless I know them or we're in the same 'group'.
Hope you have some better luck, also good work being cautious the way they reacted sounds dodge af.

I read 'anger' as 'sugar.' God damn, I need to vent my hunger. Haven't eaten properly in days -_-

Tangent aside, that sure sucks, but at least you didn't lose anything (yet), right? Put it this way: trading is a touchy business. Guy you were trading with might've been in the same boat as you at a point, and just as you thought his behaviour was shady, he thought yours was. It's a real, "I said it first!" dilemma with trades. Even though he seems a whole lot dodgier than you, IMO.

With that gift card, though, you may as well just wait for a good sale. Trust me. Or don't, y'know, I wouldn't blame you if trading has left you with trust issues. Good luck?

Maybe find a different strategy when it comes to trading.
Never had any problems while doing so
Goodluck

Hey again :P

My advice for you is to never trade with anyone that did not comment on your post first, for whatever reasons. I see your Steamtrades thread and see no comments in it (as of this moment). Make that guy that ninja added you on Steam to comment there and you can see just how much rep he has (if any at all).

Real reputable traders won't say no to such a request, but scammers will as you will be able to see their negative rating that way.