Over-the-counter trades happen in Telegram groups, forums and direct messages and in that setting no platform guarantees settlement. The classic failure is simple: one side sends first and the other party disappears. A crypto escrow service solves the sequencing problem by taking custody of the crypto side until payment is confirmed. The approach applies with USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH and LTC, and the fee is a fraction of what could be lost.
Online deal channels are full of people offering to hold funds. The concept is sound: an intermediary takes custody. The difference is accountability. An anonymous MM keeps no auditable record, no formal resolution path and often nothing to lose by vanishing. An accountable escrow provider records every deposit, publishes its fees and provides a resolution mechanism both parties agree to.
Payments in Bitcoin Escrow or stablecoins are final the moment they confirm, which makes paying a stranger a risk whenever two strangers deal. An escrow arrangement removes the risk with an independent holder in the middle of the transaction. Funds are deposited, the seller delivers, the buyer confirms before the funds are released. Neither party has to move first. The cost comes in at around one percent, which is small against an unrecoverable transfer.
Scam escrow websites appear constantly among online scammers. The scammer insists on a specific escrow service, which is theirs, and any funds sent never comes back. Warning signs are a site that appeared recently, vague or missing fees, no resolution mechanism, anonymous ownership and especially insistence on a single provider. Any genuine service is happy to be verified and never be chosen by the seller alone.