Socratic Monologue

1) Do not put your email or phone number in the ad. Only reply to offers made through the Fauna PM system. Searching the user list here suggests that you were contacted by email or text, likely from Nigeria, since there is no account with that name that has logged in recently.

2) If answering a PM, check their post history. New user? Maybe wait for the next offer.

3) If "the way their typing is" suggests they're a scammer, they might be a scammer. Maybe wait for the next offer.

4) Pay with PayPal 'Goods and Services' only. That way if they're a scammer, you'll get your money back. (Make an unboxing video when you unbox your animal. Any deviation of box contents from what you paid for is basis for a PayPal dispute). If anyone expects to be paid in any sort of unsecured funds, they better have a long and perfect history here, and possibly elsewhere as well (check the other classified sites, and FB, and do a general web search on their username and claimed legal name with location).

4b) Don't ever give any stranger unsecured funds for anything that isn't cash and carry, and even then best to put as much security in between you and ripoffs as possible. Shopping online? Use whatever credit card you have that has the best protection programs in place, and screenshot any part of the transaction that might be useful later. Save the other CCs for the grocery store.

5) A hundred dollars for an American Toad suggests your desperation shows through too clearly. There are sellers here offering WC North American toad species from time to time that might be worth waiting for some to come in stock.

5b) Your username is cute. That's not necessarily a good thing, and sort of suggests that your defenses are down. Put them up; the world is trying to eat you, so don't look tasty. Consider changing your username to something strong, or at least ambiguous.

6) Don't feel too bad. More experienced people than you have been ripped off for much more.