Skip to content
AccsMarketsAccsMarkets
Buyer & seller protection

How escrow works

Up to five stages between “interested” and “paid.” Funds are locked before a seller shares anything, and released only when the handover is done.

Browse listingsSee escrow fees
Who acts at each stage:BuyerSellerBoth
  1. 1

    FUNDED

    acts: Buyer

    The buyer pays price + fee from their wallet. Funds are locked with the platform — the seller can see the escrow is real before sharing anything.

    • Price and escrow fee are debited from the buyer's wallet in a single transaction
    • Funds sit with the platform, not the seller — visible to both sides in the order thread immediately
    • Still fully refundable, fee included, at this stage — see Cancelling below
  2. 2

    SUBMITTED

    acts: Seller

    The seller submits the account credentials and transfer details through the encrypted escrow channel. Never share credentials in DMs.

    • Details are sent through the encrypted escrow channel attached to the order — not through direct messages
    • Chat is for questions, not credentials — anything shared outside escrow isn't covered if something goes wrong
    • The order status updates the moment submission lands, so the buyer isn't left guessing
  3. 3

    VERIFIED

    acts: Buyer

    The buyer logs in, checks everything matches the listing, and confirms access.

    • Buyer checks login, followers/subscribers, monetization status and history against what was listed
    • Confirming happens before the transfer clock starts — mismatches get raised here, not after
    • Anything that doesn't match is a dispute, not a support ticket
  4. 4

    IN TRANSFER

    acts: Both

    Used on accounts that move by adding the escrow email as a manager (YouTube, X, Telegram and Facebook). A transfer countdown runs while ownership changes. Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and stock skip this stage and go from VERIFIED straight to COMPLETED.

    • Our team checks the access first, and the buyer verifies it, before the countdown starts
    • The countdown is started by the seller or our team and its length is shown on the deal page
    • If the handover doesn't complete, the buyer can open a dispute from the order page
  5. 5

    COMPLETED

    acts: Buyer

    The deal is complete and the full sale price is credited to the seller's wallet. For login handovers the buyer confirms; on manager-add deals the seller confirms the handover once the countdown ends.

    • Nothing is released before the buyer has had the inspection period to check the account
    • The seller's wallet is credited the full sale price when the deal completes
    • The listing flips to Sold and both sides can leave a review

How each platform is handed over

Platforms differ in how an account can change hands, so the stages above look slightly different per platform. This is what a new deal for each platform follows today.

Handover method and buyer protection for each platform
PlatformHow it moves to youBefore the seller is paid
YouTubeOwnership moves by adding the AccsMarkets escrow email as a manager; our team checks the access, you verify it, then a transfer countdown runs.The deal page shows each step and the countdown. The seller is paid only after the handover is confirmed.
InstagramThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you change them and the linked recovery details yourself.You have an inspection period (24 hours by default) to check the account and raise a problem before the seller is paid.
TikTokThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you change them and the linked recovery details yourself.You have an inspection period (24 hours by default) to check the account and raise a problem before the seller is paid.
FacebookOwnership moves by giving the AccsMarkets escrow profile owner-level (full control) access to the Page or Group; our team checks the access, you verify it, then a transfer countdown runs.The deal page shows each step and the countdown. The seller is paid only after the handover is confirmed.
TelegramOwnership moves by adding the AccsMarkets escrow email as a manager; our team checks the access, you verify it, then a transfer countdown runs.The deal page shows each step and the countdown. The seller is paid only after the handover is confirmed.
X (Twitter)Ownership moves by adding the AccsMarkets escrow email as a manager; our team checks the access, you verify it, then a transfer countdown runs.The deal page shows each step and the countdown. The seller is paid only after the handover is confirmed.
SnapchatThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
PinterestThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
LinkedInThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
RedditThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you change them and the linked recovery details yourself.You have an inspection period (24 hours by default) to check the account and raise a problem before the seller is paid.
DiscordThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
TwitchThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
SteamThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
ThreadsThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.
WebsiteThe seller hands the login details over inside the deal (never in chat); you check them and confirm.The seller is paid only after you confirm, or after our team's ruling in a dispute.

Handover steps for an account are shown on the deal page, with the countdown where one applies. Platforms set their own rules for transferring accounts: read the platform's terms before you buy.

Cancelling

While an escrow is still FUNDED (the seller hasn't submitted anything yet), the buyer can cancel for a full refund — sale price and escrow fee both returned.

Disputes

If something goes wrong at any later stage, either party can open a dispute. Both sides submit evidence, and our team reviews the full escrow trail before ruling a buyer refund or a seller payout. A ruling can be appealed once.

Protection for both sides

Escrow is not only for the buyer: the seller knows the money exists before handing anything over.

For buyers

  • Your payment is debited from your wallet and held by AccsMarkets. The seller is not paid until the deal's own steps are done.
  • Our team reviews every new listing, and every edit to a live one, before it goes live.
  • While the escrow is funded and the seller has not submitted anything, you can cancel for a full refund, escrow fee included.
  • Login details travel through the encrypted escrow channel on the deal, not through chat.
  • If something does not match the listing, you can open a dispute: both sides add evidence, our team decides, and a ruling can be appealed once.
  • You can ask an escrow admin to join the deal from the order page. Asking does not move any money by itself.

For sellers

  • The buyer's payment is locked in escrow before you hand anything over, so you are not asked to trust a promise.
  • You receive the full sale price: the escrow fee is paid by the buyer, on top of the price.
  • The sale price is credited to your wallet when the deal completes.
  • The deal page shows every step as it happens, to both sides, so there is a record if a dispute is opened.
  • Reviews can only be left for completed deals, so your reputation comes from real sales.
  • You can ask an escrow admin to join the deal from the order page. Asking does not move any money by itself.

What escrow costs

The buyer pays the escrow fee on top of the price, and the seller receives the full price. The fee rate follows the seller's plan, so a listing from a better plan is cheaper to buy. Enter a price to see the exact amounts at every plan.

The buyer pays this price plus the escrow fee. The seller receives the full price.

Escrow fee and buyer total for a $500.00 sale, by the seller's plan
Seller's planFee rateEscrow feeBuyer paysSeller receives
FREE5%$25.00$525.00$500.00
STARTER4%$20.00$520.00$500.00
PRO3%$15.00$515.00$500.00
ENTERPRISE2%$10.00$510.00$500.00
Fee reference tableCommon deal sizes. The escrow fee is paid by the buyer on top of the price; the seller receives the full price.
Deal sizeFREE (5%)STARTER (4%)PRO (3%)ENTERPRISE (2%)Cheapest vs most expensive
$50$4(min)$3(min)$2(min)$1Save $3
$100$5$4$3$2Save $3
$250$12.50$10$7.50$5Save $7.50
$500$25$20$15$10Save $15
$1,000$50$40$30$20Save $30
$2,500$125$100$75$50Save $75
$5,000$250$200$150$100Save $150

A funded escrow that is cancelled before handover is refunded in full, fee included. Deposit and withdrawal charges are separate: see all fees

Why it's safe to trade here

Funds locked, not promised

Money moves into escrow before the seller shares anything. It is released only through the deal's own steps, or by our team's ruling in a dispute.

Encrypted handoff

Credentials and transfer details travel through the escrow channel, not chat. It's built to be the only place they're ever shared.

Human-reviewed disputes

If a stage goes wrong, either side can escalate. Our team reviews the full escrow trail, and a ruling can be appealed once.

Read our full trust & safety report

Common questions

What if the seller never submits the account details?
While the escrow is still FUNDED, the buyer can cancel at any time for a full refund — sale price and escrow fee both returned.
What happens if the seller misses the transfer deadline?
On manager-add deals the buyer sees a live countdown. If the handover isn't completed, the buyer can open a dispute directly from the order page.
Can I lose money in escrow?
Funds leave escrow in one of these ways: back to the buyer (cancellation, refund, or a dispute ruled in their favor), to the seller (a completed deal, or a dispute ruled in their favor), or split between them if our team negotiates a settlement.
Do I have to trust the seller before paying?
No — that's the point of escrow. Payment is locked with the platform first, so the seller can confirm the deal is real without the buyer ever having to pay into their hands directly.

Ready to trade safely?

Browse verified listings, or list your own account and let escrow do the trust-building for you.

Browse listingsStart selling