Safe direct contact methods from directories – what works best without risks?

[birom]

Been reading about scams in online directories and it's making me rethink using them at all. Had a close call where someone asked for a "verification deposit" via gift card – red flag city, thankfully I stopped there. What are the biggest scam signs you watch for in these platforms? Fake profiles, payment tricks, or other patterns? Share your red flags so we can all stay safer when browsing and contacting.