stay safe

Don't get scammed. Trade smart.

Most P2P losses come from a handful of well-known tricks — and almost all of them are avoidable. Here's how scams actually work, the red flags to watch, and the golden rules that keep your funds safe on Middn.

1 rulenever skip escrow

0"trust me" trades

2-of-3neutral disputes

The one idea that protects you: on Middn, the seller's stablecoin is locked in on-chain escrow before you pay. Your only job is to never release — or never pay — until you've truly received your side. Everything below is about protecting that single moment.

The golden rules

memorise these five

Never trade outside escrow

If anyone asks you to cancel, pay "directly", or move to Telegram/WhatsApp to "save fees" — it's a scam. The escrow is the protection. No exceptions.

Only trust money you can see

A screenshot is not a payment. Release only when funds are cleared and final in your own bank or wallet app — never "pending", never "on hold".

Names must match

The sender's real name should match the verified counterparty. A third-party payment is a classic way to get your funds frozen later.

Beware reversible rails

PayPal, card payments and some wallets can be charged back days later. Prefer instant, irreversible rails (SEPA Instant, PIX, PromptPay) when you can.

Keep it on-platform

All chat, evidence and reference numbers stay inside Middn. If it's not in the deal record, a mediator can't use it to protect you.

Slow down under pressure

"Hurry, I have another buyer" is manufactured urgency. A real trader is fine with you taking time to verify. Pressure itself is the red flag.

Common scams, decoded

how each one actually works

The fake payment proof

most common

The trickThe buyer sends a photoshopped receipt or a "payment sent" screenshot, then pressures you to release before the money arrives.

Your defenceOpen your own banking app. Release only when the funds have actually landed and cleared — ignore every screenshot.

The chargeback reversal

reversible rails

The trickPayment arrives, you release — then days later the buyer reverses it via PayPal/card dispute, keeping both crypto and cash.

Your defencePrefer irreversible rails. On reversible ones, require matching name + "Friends & Family", and keep all evidence in the deal.

The "let's go off-platform"

social engineering

The trick"Cancel here, I'll send first on Telegram" or "my app is broken, pay me directly". Once off-escrow, you have zero protection.

Your defenceRefuse, every time. A genuine trader never needs to leave escrow. Report the offer and move on.

The third-party payment

frozen funds

The trickPayment comes from a different name — sometimes stolen funds. Later it's reported, your account is flagged and money clawed back.

Your defenceThe sender name must match the verified counterparty. Mismatch? Don't release — open a dispute with the evidence.

The drained gift card

codes

The trickFor gift-card trades, the buyer sends a code that's already spent, or a photo of a card they still physically hold.

Your defenceVerify the full code and balance on the official site and redeem it to your account before releasing crypto.

The impersonation / fake support

phishing

The trickSomeone DMs you posing as "Middn support" asking for your seed phrase, password, or to "verify" by sending funds.

Your defenceMiddn will never DM you for a seed phrase or password, and never asks you to send funds to "verify". Ignore and report.

Instant red flags

if you see these, stop

Urgency & pressure"Quick, release now or I cancel."

Wants to leave escrow"Let's finish on Telegram."

Only a screenshotNo money in your real account.

Name doesn't matchPayment from a stranger's account.

Asks for seed/passwordNo one legitimate ever will.

Brand-new accountNo history, no completed trades.

How Middn protects you

the system is on your side

Funds locked before you pay

The seller's stablecoin sits in audited on-chain escrow from the start. They can't vanish with it mid-trade.

Verified, rated counterparties

Reputation, completion rate and dispute history are visible up front — and sellers can require KYC or block new accounts.

Neutral 2-of-3 disputes

If something goes wrong, funds stay locked while an independent panel decides on the evidence — not on who shouts loudest.

Everything on the record

Chat, payment references and proof live inside the deal — so a mediator can actually see what happened and protect you.

Before you release

tap each once it's true

The money is cleared and final in my own account — not pending.

The amount matches exactly, including the reference.

The sender's name matches the verified counterparty.

We stayed inside Middn the whole time.

No one pressured me to rush. I verified at my own pace.

Trade with confidence.

You now know the playbook scammers use — and exactly how to shut each one down. Put it into practice on a market built to protect you.

Open the market → Payment risk guide