I'm really at a loss on this one.
Any well known merchant/exchange is "safe". I've purchased through coinbase (via their bank transfers) and virwox (debit card and paypal) hundreds of times without issue. Well except coinbase transactions takes a long time and virwox's large fee's. Never been blatantly ripped off by either company though.
Lots of good reviews on local bitcoins.
I wouldn't trade with anyone on the forums just for the fact that so many people have been ripped off time and time again. So many scams here seriously some people have no shame.
Actually, never mine I totally misread your question.