- Being contacted by an escrow by email first is a bad sign.
- Being contacted by an escrow on Telegram first means you are definitely talking to a scammer!
Telegram related scam is increasing day by day and no way to deny that making deal with anyone through telegram being too much risky for newbies now. Most concerning thing is that these specific group of scammers have targeted trusted escrow providers now. After using the reputation of bitcointalk users for a long time now they are trying to make newbies fool by creating telegram account with trusted escrow service providers name but different username. Sometime newbies don't feel it necessary to contact real person through forum account and make the transaction.
Before making a deal, always PM the escrow you wish to use on the forum. Better yet, write a post in their escrow service thread and wait for them to respond in public.
Using forum PM system is the only way by which newbies can make hassle free and safer deals everytime. Sometime after making the post on escrow service thread scammers will start to give them PM from unknown/newly created forum account or telegram. I think its always better to send direct PM to escrow providers.