₿ LIST ₿ Bitcointalk's ESCROW providers: Ranking & Blacklist ☠ Avoid Scam ☠

[Viceroy]

I am going to get back into doing escrows for a bit. Here is my kinda old service thread.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=105282.0

Are ANY of the listed escrow agents actually escrow agents?  I bet not a one of them is legit.

By way of example:

In the terminology of the escrow industry, all escrow agents performing escrow services in California are either “licensed” or “controlled” escrow companies.  A "licensed" escrow company, which is also known as an “independent” escrow company, is licensed by the Department of Corporations.  This license can only be obtained after the escrow company has met and satisfied all of the licensing requirements set forth by the Escrow Law, which are enforced by the Department of Corporations.

http://www.corp.ca.gov/Laws/Escrow_Law/Consumer.asp

[1714135769]

1714135769

[1714135769]

1714135769

[escrow.ms]

@viceroy California or USA =/= World. 

[SaltySpitoon]

I talked to a family friend who is a lawyer in MD, and they told me as long as you are doing less than $50,000 in *escrow deals per year, you don't fall under MSB status that requires a money transmitter license, nor do you have to strictly follow AML laws. However, they told me if I wanted to be safe, to record any transactions above $10k and if I had suspicion that it was being used illicitly, I had an obligation to report it to some AML organization. ($10,000 transactions for neopets codes or something fishy like that, not for mining hardware)

However, I haven't done escrows that large in a while, so I haven't needed to record anything of the sort. Also, that being said, thats in Maryland, not sure how it applies elsewhere.

* She cited Bitcoin escrow as being similar to situations where a friend buys a car from another friend, and will have a mutual friend hold the money for an agreed upon amount of time, to make sure that they have assurance that the car wont fall apart due to an undisclosed issue. There are of course lawsuits available in that senario, however informal escrow is not uncommon. That is if you consider Bitcoin applicable to fiat laws, which assuming so is probably the safest way to stay out of trouble.

I think things change if you charge for your escrow service, depending on location, however if you do escrow for tips, you should be alright, again depending on location. Probably not a bad idea to talk to a lawyer or someone who can give you advice on how to keep yourself legal.

[Dabs]

Yeah, I have mandatory tips. Or non-optional tips. Or something like that.

You can also call us the "middle-men" if you don't like calling us "escrows".

If bitcoin is following fiat laws, then it must be considered currency. Which is good for bitcoin. Especially if the US government decides that. However, how about the rest of the world?

[Financisto]

Yeah, I have mandatory tips. Or non-optional tips. Or something like that.

You can also call us the "middle-men" if you don't like calling us "escrows".

If bitcoin is following fiat laws, then it must be considered currency. Which is good for bitcoin. Especially if the US government decides that. However, how about the rest of the world?

I agree!

By this time, while bitcoin is not recognised as a currency yet (by majors governments), I think we'll leave it that way: escrow.

"Middle-men" reminds me of "man-in-the-middle" (attack). And that's so bad.

BTW, besides some people might think differently, the world is a little wider than the US...

[SaltySpitoon]

Yeah, I have mandatory tips. Or non-optional tips. Or something like that.

You can also call us the "middle-men" if you don't like calling us "escrows".

If bitcoin is following fiat laws, then it must be considered currency. Which is good for bitcoin. Especially if the US government decides that. However, how about the rest of the world?

I completely agree that going by fiat law isn't correct for Bitcoin, but as we have seen as recently as Mike (Casascius) getting shut down, the U.S Gov is willing to overlook and imply a few things in order to be a pain in the ass. Abiding by fiat laws is partially unnecessary, however if its not a huge inconvience, its the safest way to operate without having someone knocking at your door. And if they do, you can at least say you were trying to do things legally. (That all assuming you are in the U.S)

[Financisto]

Yeah, I have mandatory tips. Or non-optional tips. Or something like that.

You can also call us the "middle-men" if you don't like calling us "escrows".

If bitcoin is following fiat laws, then it must be considered currency. Which is good for bitcoin. Especially if the US government decides that. However, how about the rest of the world?

I completely agree that going by fiat law isn't correct for Bitcoin, but as we have seen as recently as Mike (Casascius) getting shut down, the U.S Gov is willing to overlook and imply a few things in order to be a pain in the ass. Abiding by fiat laws is partially unnecessary, however if its not a huge inconvience, its the safest way to operate without having someone knocking at your door. And if they do, you can at least say you were trying to do things legally. (That all assuming you are in the U.S)

If that word (escrow) "attracts" such "regulatory problems" for you, maybe we can adopt the word Custodian.

What do you guys think about it?

[Dabs]

Custodian, care taker, handler, "I know a guy."

The generic name is Trusted Third Party.

So we could go by: Trusted Third Party Bitcoin and Crypto Custodian.

My biggest has been 47 or 42 BTC, so not quite yet at the US limit. Then again, I could go by Weex exchange rate (or whoever is lowest). I mean, a bitcoin is only worth what someone will pay for it. It's ALWAYS less than you think.

[Dabs]

On the other hand, take a look at the scuba ddiving industry. None of the certificate cards, such as PADI, NAUI, IANTD, GUE, etc are government departments or agencies. They are all just private entities or associations or groups or explorers. Yet they tend to call their c-cards as licenses. There is also no government requirement or regulation about accepting or preventing experienced or new divers from renting or using equipment.

In other words, they are self regulating.

[Viceroy]

"I know a guy". rofl.

yea the word "escrow" is a "reserved" word all around America. 

* Viceroy scoffs at the notion that America != the world

[Dabs]

I know a guy = I saw it in a recent movie starring Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg, Two Guns.

[Financisto]

I guess I'll leave the name the way it is: "escrow service". At least untill bitcoin starts getting some serious attention from governments and regulators worldwide.

[Kluge]

I will be accepting Litecoin escrow transactions starting on Monday. (still familiarizing myself with the LTC client and studying LTC in general)

[Financisto]

Gentlemen,

The list has been updated!

New criterions and score types added:

OTC#: is the member "total rating" at #bitcoin-oc web of trust data.

Reason - a long time OTC trader that did lots of deals tends to be more trustworthy.

P.s. member must send a GPG signed personal message mentioning the link to his rating page at bitcoin-otc.com in order to be verified for this criterion.

LB#: is the member score at LocalBitcoins.com.

The score will be calculated as:

Code:

Feedback score * Number of confirmed trades

Reason - a long time P2P trader that did lots of deals tends to be more trustworthy.

P.s. member must send a GPG signed personal message mentioning the link to his account profile page at localbitcoins.com in order to be verified for this criterion. Additional info: member must add his GPG fingerprint/key id as an additional profile info at localbitcoins.com in order to be verified.

New member added: Mr. gweedo

A new Warning: member The Koolio has been suspended from the list.

More to come...

[Financisto]

Just mention at your announcement thread that you have it and may use it if asked so.

You can also add the key ID to your signature or even sign what is written at the announcement thread.

Take a look at other's example... 

[Financisto]

List updated (and scores upgraded)!

UPDATE #2 of year 2014.

Keep up the good work everybody!

[Dabs]

Oh no, I'm in 8th place now. hehe.

[Tomatocage]

Please consider me for the list in the OP. I've been doing escrow jobs under the radar for some time now and think I have a pretty good feel for it

[techgeek]

List updated (and scores upgraded)!

UPDATE #2 of year 2014.

Keep up the good work everybody!

つづく

Thanks for updating this still. It helps people like myself who are debating who to go with, since theres just so many escrow service providers that claim to do escrow.

[Financisto]

Please consider me for the list in the OP. I've been doing escrow jobs under the radar for some time now and think I have a pretty good feel for it

As I've said before, I could not find the announcement thread to your escrow service.

As mentioned above:

Only members with announcements threads / sites will be listed.

I'll update the list when there is one.