If you’re advocating caution when it comes to these vendors, there’s no reason to get defensive over scrutiny directed at you. I would hope given the circumstances (you were the source of the email, you are the only person who has received an order from them, you were the first one to report a scam), that were you in any other position, you would encourage someone to question it as well. As far as you not actually vouching for them, and merely sharing information, when you responded to my email stating that you were the only person I had seen who actually ordered from them, and I was going to order based on what you said, what did that actually look like to you? Again, it’s something that only works over the internet, where a person isn’t responsible for a recommendation if it turns out to be wrong, or if they turn out to be plugging their own scam.
Am I after your sources? No, I doubt you have any different ones than I do. Do I think you’re responsible for a bad review? Not necessarily. Am I suspicious, given our interaction and the way this has gone down that you might have been guiding people towards a scam you orchestrated? Absolutely. If you say you would react any differently I’d have a hard time believing it. I lost $250, not a big deal and nothing I can’t afford to lose. Other people are going to see your posts and take them at face value, they may even contact you like I did and put faith in your response. I hope anyone would perform due diligence.