Start Small with Trusted Contacts For your first exchanges, trade small amounts with people you know or have verified through trusted channels. If you're new to P2P, try starting with Bitcoin communities in your area (like Telegram or WhatsApp groups) where members are vetted and rated by the community.

Use Multi-Signature Escrows When using online platforms, prioritize those with multi-sig escrow services, like Hodl Hodl or Bisq. This setup reduces risks, as the funds are held securely until both parties agree to release them. Multi-sig offers a level of security that simple transactions often lack.