I'm not sure if I am in the group, I hope I'm not. I hope you don't think I am.
You're new, and I'm glad you got out of the deal. There was a reason why you didn't see a bunch of veterans jumping into that thread. They've been down this road before and aren't willing to take the risk.
Also, the seller's instant knowledge of the rules and the mechanics of posting and selling, and the speed at which his pics came up lead one to question whether this might be a shill for a HOS/PL or previously banned member.