What is Escrow Payment? How It Protects You When Buying Online in Pakistan

What is Escrow?

Escrow is a financial arrangement where a neutral third party holds the buyer's money until both sides fulfill their obligations. In online shopping, this means: you pay, but the seller doesn't get your money until you confirm you received what was promised.

How Escrow Works on Yaqeen

1. You find a product: Browse listings from CNIC-verified sellers
2. You pay into escrow: Transfer money to Yaqeen's secure account. The seller sees that payment is confirmed but cannot withdraw it.
3. Seller ships the product: The seller ships to your address with tracking
4. You inspect and confirm: Check the product. If everything is good, confirm delivery. Yaqeen releases payment to the seller.
5. Problem? Raise a dispute: If the product isn't as described, raise a dispute within 72 hours. Your money stays frozen. Yaqeen's team reviews evidence and decides fairly.

Escrow vs Direct Transfer vs COD

Direct Bank Transfer

Once you transfer money, it's gone. If the seller doesn't ship or sends a fake product, you have no recourse. This is how most online scams work in Pakistan.

Cash on Delivery (COD)

COD seems safe but has problems: you can't properly inspect a phone in front of a courier in 30 seconds, sellers face high COD fraud (buyers rejecting items), and many sellers refuse COD altogether.

Escrow (Yaqeen)

Best of both worlds. Buyer's money is protected. Seller is guaranteed payment once buyer confirms. Both sides are protected by a neutral system.

Is My Money Safe in Escrow?

Yes. Yaqeen holds escrow funds in a regulated bank account separate from operating funds. Your money is always there, always accessible. It is either released to the seller on confirmation or returned to you if there's a valid dispute.