CS2 Trade-Up Contract Scams: Don't Buy the 'Secret Formula'

Scam 1: Selling the "Secret Formula" (The Pump and Dump)

1. They own all those filler skins. They bought them when they were dirt cheap.
2. The trade-up odds are terrible. The video was heavily edited, or they tried the contract 50 times before recording the one success. The actual expected value (EV) of the contract is massively negative.

Scam 2: The "Let Me Do It For You" Service

• The Swap: They ask you to trade them the value of the 10 skins in keys or liquids (like AK Redlines). They then trade you 10 skins back. However, they intentionally give you skins with slightly worse floats than required. This completely ruins the math of the contract, causing you to receive a lower-wear (and less valuable) outcome, while they keep the premium you paid for the "perfect" floats.
• The Runaway: Even simpler: they ask you to send them your high-tier skins as the main "ingredients" for the contract, promising to add their perfect filler skins, do the contract, and split the profit. Once you send your skins, they block you.

Scam 3: Forged Float Screenshots

How to Protect Yourself in Trade-Ups

1. Do Your Own Math: Never blindly trust a YouTuber or Discord user's "profitable formula." Always use reputable third-party trade-up calculator sites (like TradeUpSpy or CSGOSkins.gg calculators). Input the exact skins and floats to verify the profitability and exact percentage odds yourself.
2. There Are No Secrets: If a trade-up is massively profitable, the market adjusts quickly. The required input skins will rise in price until the contract is no longer highly profitable. Anyone selling a "secret" is lying.
3. Never Let Someone Else "Do" the Contract: If you are doing a contract, acquire the skins yourself and click the button yourself. Never hand your items to a "service provider."
4. Verify Floats In-Game or via API: If buying a skin specifically for its float, never trust a screenshot. Inspect the item in-game yourself by clicking the info icon, or use a trusted marketplace or browser extension that pulls float data directly from the Steam API in real-time.