Looking for options for an anonymous pay-share/escrow service for digital goods

[Praedonum]

I am looking for existing sites and services that people and/or groups who do not know each other in person can use to split the cost of digital services and goods.  If something like I am describing does not exist, I am willing to build it myself and am open to feedback and suggestions for getting started.

The service should allow users to work together on projects and split the cost of services while remaining anonymous to one-another.   The ideas that I have in mind are for fundraising/crowdsourcing, developing desktop and web applications, working with subscriptions such as hosting packages or remote desktops: doing legitimate work together and/or buying products and services that aren’t illegal, but where users may wish to remain anonymous from one another.  Ideally the service could be used for buying any digital product, service, or subscription.   I wouldn't want it to be limited to Bitcoin either—the anonymity aspect would block users from knowing the personal details of those they enter into agreements with, but because I wouldn't want it to be used for illegal activity, it wouldn't be necessary to make user details anonymous from the service itself.  If I do have to start my own escrow company, I'd like it to accept as many forms of payment (credit/debit cards, BitCoins, PayPal, PayZa, etc) as possible so that a large percentage of people have access.

Allow me to give a few examples.

•  My adopted sister is looking to raise $5000 for a charity in Nicaragua for a piece of medical equipment, I suggested that she start by placing $5 into an escrow account earmarked with a unique project identifier to encourage others to donate, no funds would be released unless/until the remaining $4995 is raised.  Maybe it even has an expiration.  This would make a great alternative to Kickstarter.
•  I have a website for a literary journal, run by people I don't know in person.  We own a license to the webfonts we use on the website, but to license them for print and/or embedding in an app, we need to buy a much more expensive license.  If we split the cost, we could easily afford it, but not knowing each other in person, none of us trust the others that we will be paid back.  However, if I can deposit 10% into escrow for this reason,  then we could probably figure it out.  Of course, there is still the question of who buys the license when all the money is deposited:  will they be released to me, or to the retailer?

Again, I'm open to suggestions.

[avatar_kiyoshi]

There are some list escrow here, people who trusted to be an escrow.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=855778.0

[Praedonum]

Thank you for your reply, but I am not sure what I'm looking at.  You said it was a list of escrows, but it seems to be a list of BitcoinTalk usernames? Are you suggesting that as an alternative to someone I know but not in person who I don't know I can trust, I choose a complete stranger who I don't know that I can trust?

How was it determined that these users could be recommended and trusted to be an escrow?  What are the requirements they had to meet?  Who did the determining?  Is there a feedback system in place?  Have there been fraudulent users running scams on this list?

Also what does the abbreviation [ANN] mean?

Are there really no escrow service companies (for bitcoin or for paypal) that someone could recommend?  I'd rather trust a licensed company over an individual, even if it means paying a flat rate or percentage.

[achow101]

Thank you for your reply, but I am not sure what I'm looking at.  You said it was a list of escrows, but it seems to be a list of BitcoinTalk usernames? Are you suggesting that as an alternative to someone I know but not in person who I don't know I can trust, I choose a complete stranger who I don't know that I can trust?

It is a list of bitcointalk users (people) who are considered trustworthy enough to escrow bitcoin.

How was it determined that these users could be recommended and trusted to be an escrow?  What are the requirements they had to meet?  Who did the determining?  Is there a feedback system in place?  Have there been fraudulent users running scams on this list?

These users were determined to be trustworthy by their past actions. They have demonstrated that they can hold a large sum of money without stealing it. There is a feedback system. If you look at the person's profile page, you can see their trust. Clicking on that link will take you to a page where users have left feedback for that person. There have been escrows who, for a long time, were trusted, but became scammers. These people were trusted because they escrowed for a long time, did many trades, and did not scam until a long time later.

Also what does the abbreviation [ANN] mean?

It means Announcement. The ANN thread is where the escrow announces their service and a lot of feedback about them also ends up there.

Are there really no escrow service companies (for bitcoin or for paypal) that someone could recommend?  I'd rather trust a licensed company over an individual, even if it means paying a flat rate or percentage.

AFAIK, no, at least, not for multiple currencies like Bitcoin and PayPal. Of course, PayPal itself is also an escrow service.

When doing escrow with Bitcoin, you should also use multisig escrow, especially with large sums of money. This means that in order to send the escrowed funds anywhere, multiple people must sign the transaction. It prevents the escrow from stealing the funds.

[Praedonum]

Thanks for the info, this is all really helpful—sorry to ask so many noobie questions.  

I still have yet to buy my first bitcoin because it bothers me that a system that is supposed to be anonymous and untraceable requires more personal info than many banks. PayPal—as much as I might hate them for the monopoly they hold and the fees it allows them to charge—only requires a simple email address for signup and to send/receive payments.

If anyone has recommendations on anonymous wallets, I'd appreciate some pointers or referrals.  I'm not trying to do anything illegal like Silkroad or whatever the kids are using: I have just read it's pointless to pay for privacy services that I use like VPN through companies that track and record and sell one's buying habits.  And these days everyone should be on VPN—on principle alone.

And back to the escrow thing, how would I go about building a feature like that into a site?  Are there individuals or groups in those above, that take on responsibilities like that?

[achow101]

Thanks for the info, this is all really helpful—sorry to ask so many noobie questions.  

I still have yet to buy my first bitcoin because it bothers me that a system that is supposed to be anonymous and untraceable requires more personal info than many banks. PayPal—as much as I might hate them for the monopoly they hold and the fees it allows them to charge—only requires a simple email address for signup and to send/receive payments.

Use https://localbitcoins.com/ and buy bitcoin with cash from a local trader near you.

If anyone has recommendations on anonymous wallets, I'd appreciate some pointers or referrals.  I'm not trying to do anything illegal like Silkroad or whatever the kids are using: I have just read it's pointless to pay for privacy services that I use like VPN through companies that track and record and sell one's buying habits.  And these days everyone should be on VPN—on principle alone.

All desktop wallets are anonymous. The only things that need your ID are exchanges because they need bank account info. If you use LocalBitcoins and send to a local wallet such as Electrum, Bitcoin Core, or Armory on desktop or Mycelium on Android, then no one needs to know your identity and you are anonymous.

And back to the escrow thing, how would I go about building a feature like that into a site?  Are there individuals or groups in those above, that take on responsibilities like that?

I'm not sure what kind of feature or responsibilities you are talking about. Do you mean a site that does automated escrowing? And whether those trusted escrows want to work for a company that does escrow?

[Praedonum]

by responsibilities, i just meant being available to act as a go between to make users feel confident about purchases.  (an unrelated but relevant example: there are some sites like printroot I'd be curious to try, but they require a "donation" of like .5 bitcoin before they make an account for you, and as a donation theres nothing to keep them from stealing it.) Anyway MY site idea, the one I'm asking these questions about, is still very much in the brainstorming and planning phases, havent gotten to the details of the logistics yet!