Before you send crypto to someone
A short checklist for peer-to-peer crypto deals — vetting the deal, spotting a fake-escrow scam, funding safely, and knowing how disputes resolve. None of this is a guarantee; it's the set of checks worth running every time.
Before you agree to anything
Know exactly what the deal is
Write down what each side gives and gets, and what counts as "done." Vague terms are where most disputes start — and what an arbitrator has to fall back on if it goes wrong.
Don't let urgency rush you
A counterparty pushing for speed — "send now or I sell to someone else" — is the oldest pressure tactic. A real deal survives you taking an hour to check things.
Be skeptical of an offer that is too good
Far-above-market prices, "guaranteed" returns, or someone eager to overpay are classic bait. If you can’t see why the other side benefits, look harder.
Spotting a fake-escrow scam
Be wary of an escrow "they" insist on
A counterparty who demands a specific escrow site you’ve never heard of — especially via a link they send — is a red flag. Fake escrow sites are a common scam. Reach the tool yourself, by typing the address.
Custodial escrow means trusting a middleman
If an "escrow" asks you to send funds to a person or company wallet to hold, that’s custody — you’re trusting them not to run. Non-custodial escrow locks funds in a contract instead, which you can verify on-chain.
Verify the contract, not the website
A slick site proves nothing. What matters is the on-chain contract that holds the funds. Check the token address before you approve it, and confirm where funds actually go.
When you fund the escrow
Read every wallet prompt
Check the network, the contract address, the token, and the amount on the actual MetaMask screen — not just what the website says. If anything reads "likely to fail," stop.
Confirm funds go to a contract, not a person
In a non-custodial escrow the approval and deposit target the escrow contract. If a wallet prompt is sending to a plain personal address, that is not escrow.
Keep the evidence
Save the transaction hash and the agreed terms. If a dispute happens, on-chain proof and a clear record of what was promised are what decide it.
If something goes wrong
Know how disputes are settled before you start
With Vaultion, who rules a dispute depends on the network: on Ethereum it is Kleros, independent staked jurors; on every other network it is a Vaultion reviewer, a real person who works for us. Understand the process and rough timing up front, not in the middle of a problem.
Escrow protects the payment, not the counterparty
Escrow makes sure funds only move on agreement or a ruling. It can’t force someone to be honest about what they’re selling — judging the counterparty is still on you.
Two of these checks have a tool: verify a token address before you approve it, and check for leftover approvals after a deal.
Ready to set one up?
Create an escrow in a few steps. Funds stay locked in the contract until the deal is done or arbitration decides.
Create an escrow