Fake Escrow Scam

Legitimate escrow services hold funds from a buyer until both parties confirm a transaction is complete, then release payment to the seller. Fake escrow scams exploit this trust by creating convincing replicas of real escrow platforms or inventing plausible-sounding services. The scammer then insists this specific service be used, citing it as 'neutral' or 'secure'.

In a typical variant a buyer sends funds to the fake escrow site; the site confirms receipt (to both parties) but the funds go directly to the scammer. When the buyer later seeks the return of funds after discovering no goods are delivered, the fake escrow site is uncontactable. Seller-side variants also exist where the fraudster 'buys' something, provides a fake escrow confirmation, and requests the item before release.

Fake escrow scams are common in online vehicle sales, domain-name transfers, high-value goods marketplaces, and freelance work platforms. Consumers should verify escrow services directly through the official website accessed independently — never via a link provided by the counterparty.