Get a 2ndhand laptop if thats your budget… Build your trust in people a little. Though it is recommended to do research. A LOT of them. Stalk their profile, selling histories, ratings, the laptop issues that it may or had happened to others etc.

Also if you really paranoid about it, buy it only f2f so you can test it 1sthand. I bought a phone 2ndhand and f2f. It was cheap for it spec and in 9/10 condition. Only some scratches on places that would 100% scratch when used for a long time.