Seems like a lot of fuss over a pretty normal situation. Random gmail address offering almost a grand with no contract is an obvious red flag, and you already said the other two people never got paid, so that part pretty much answers itself. Asking for a kill fee is fine but it's not some big secret weapon, most brands will just say no and move on to the next person if they don't like it. Small brands with actual contracts and half upfront are just doing basic business, that's not a hot take, that's how it's supposed to work. Feels less like you cracked a code and more like you just dodged a scam.

Yep, wiggle test every connector first now.

Those jingles are basically brain worms.