How to spot a fake crypto escrow
The most common crypto deal scam is not a hacker. It is a "middleman" or escrow site the scammer controls. Here is how to recognise one before you send a single coin.
The short answer
Be suspicious when the other person chooses the escrow for you, sends you a link to it, wants payment to a personal wallet, or asks for a password, recovery link or seed phrase. Real escrow never needs any of those, and you should always type the escrow website's address yourself.
Seven warning signs
- They pick the escrow. The seller insists on a service you have never heard of, or a "trusted middleman" in a chat group.
- They send the link. A look-alike address (an extra letter, a different ending) is the easiest trap. Type the address yourself.
- Payment to a person. You are told to send to someone's own wallet "to speed things up". Escrow funds go to the escrow, never to a person.
- Secrets requested. Anyone asking for your password, reset link or seed phrase is stealing your account or wallet.
- Pressure and urgency. "Send in 10 minutes or the deal is off" is designed to stop you checking.
- "Release first" requests. Being asked to confirm receipt before you actually have the item. Once released, crypto cannot be reversed.
- Support that contacts you first. A message from "escrow support" you did not ask for, especially one with a link.
How to check you are on the real EZY-ESCROW
- The address bar shows ezy-escrow.org, typed by you or from your own bookmark.
- Escrow deposit addresses appear only inside your account, on your own deal page.
- We never ask for your password, your password-reset link or your wallet's seed phrase.
- You confirm receipt yourself with the "I received it" button. Nobody else can do it for you.
Questions
How do I spot a fake escrow or middleman scam?
Warning signs: the other person insists on an escrow site you have never heard of, sends you a link instead of letting you type the address, asks you to pay a person's wallet directly, or asks for your password, recovery link or seed phrase. Real escrow never needs any of those.
How do I know I am on the real EZY-ESCROW website?
The only address is https://ezy-escrow.org. Escrow deposit addresses are shown only inside your account, on your own deal page. EZY-ESCROW will never ask for your password, your password-reset link or your wallet's seed phrase.
Can crypto escrow protect me from scams?
Escrow protects you from paying and receiving nothing, because the seller is only paid after you confirm receipt. It cannot protect you from agreeing to vague terms or from fake escrow websites. Always type ezy-escrow.org yourself and never send crypto directly to a person's wallet when a deal is meant to go through escrow.
Can a crypto payment be reversed after release?
No. Once crypto is released on the blockchain it cannot be pulled back, which is exactly why the buyer should only confirm receipt after checking that what arrived matches the deal.
Can I use escrow for a deal I arranged on Telegram or another chat app?
Yes. Both of you create EZY-ESCROW accounts and the deal runs on our website, wherever you met. Only use links you open yourself at ezy-escrow.org, never escrow links sent to you in a chat.