Escrow

Escrow is a financial arrangement in which a trusted, neutral third party holds money (or other assets) until a transaction is completed and both sides have fulfilled their obligations. In property transactions, for example, a buyer's deposit is held in escrow until contracts exchange. In online commerce, escrow protects both buyer and seller during high-value trades.

Fraudsters exploit the escrow concept with 'fake escrow' scams: they direct victims to a fraudulent escrow website they control, collect payment, and disappear. This is common in vehicle sales, domain name trades, and freelance work platforms where buyers feel they need protection.

Always use a licensed, independently verifiable escrow service and access it by typing the URL yourself — never through a link provided by the other party. In most jurisdictions, legitimate escrow companies are regulated financial institutions.