Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – now rebranded and upgraded to Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) is one of the most popular first-person shooters in the world. But not just for its gameplay. Another reason it has become such a big hit is because of its ever-growing (and increasingly valuable) ecosystem of skins, which you can collect, trade, and sell, whether you’re a player or not!
However, unless you buy from Valve itself, the potential for scams in the marketplace can be worrying – which is exactly why Valve introduced the Escrow system, which gives you added protection for trades and makes it a safer process for everyone.
But what is it, how does it work – and are there any pitfalls to it? Well, in this CSGO Escrow guide, we’ll look at everything you need to know about what it is, how it works, how you can use it effectively, and our top tips for safe trading.
What is CSGO Escrow?
CSGO Escrow is a system that has been introduced by Valve to make trading between players in Counter-Strike safer and more secure. It essentially acts as an intermediary – a middle man for the items that are being exchanged in a trade, making sure that both of the parties in the deal fulfil their end of the transaction before the items are transferred.
When a trade has been initiated, the items that are involved will be placed into a temporary holding period… and this is known as the “Escrow” period. This period can last anywhere between 15 minutes and 48 hours, depending on various factors like the type of items that are being traded and/or the reputation of the players who are involved. During this time, both of the players need to confirm their intention to complete the trade, and if either party fails to do so, the trade will be cancelled, and the items will be returned to their original owners.
The main purpose of Escrow is to keep CS players protected from scams and fraudsters – as it’s a way to make sure that both of the parties are legitimate and makes it impossible for a player to try to take the item without handing over what they’re supposedly trading it with. Escrow isn’t automatic for everything, though – it’s normally triggered for specific types of trades – like those that involve newly obtained items, particularly high-value skins, or anyone trying to trade with an unverified account.
How Does CSGO Escrow Work?
CSGO Escrow is the secure middleman – making sure that everything is in place before the items are exchanged. And here’s exactly how it works:
1: The Trade is Initiated
When you decide to make a trade, you’ll first need to initiate the trade. This will simply involve you and whoever you want to trade with, picking which items you both want to exchange. Once you’ve both placed your items in the trade window, the trade will then be sent over to the Steam system to be reviewed.
2: Escrow is Activated
If you, your trading partner (or both) are flagged up by the Steam system (which could be due to various factors like having a new account, doing a high-value trade, or if the trade involves any unverified items), then the trade will automatically go into Escrow – which means that the items won’t be exchanged straight away – there will be a waiting period.
3: The Holding Period Begins
During the Escrow period, any items involved in the trade will be temporarily held by Steam’s system. Both players will then be required to confirm their part of the trade before the items are released.
Generally, the Escrow period lasts somewhere between 15 minutes and 48 hours, but it all depends on factors like what types of items you’re trying to trade, the value of the trade, and the trading history of both parties involved. The trade can’t be completed and the items won’t be released until both of the players have approved it within the Escrow window.
4: Confirmation
Both of the players have to make sure that they confirm the trade within the required timeframe because if either of them fails to do so, the whole trade will simply be cancelled, and the items will go straight back to their original owners. However, if both players approve it in time, the items will be transferred immediately.
5: Cancellation
If one of the players doesn’t confirm the trade in time – or if either tries to back out of the trade after it has been initiated, then the trade will automatically be cancelled so that neither of the players loses their items unfairly.
When Does Escrow Apply?
As we touched on above, these are the main reasons you might find yourself in the middle of an Escrow transaction:
You Or Your Trading Partner Have a New Steam Account:
If a player has a reasonably new Steam account – or one that hasn’t completed many trades before, it’s likely that the system will flag it up for Escrow. This is put into place to protect the more established players from trading with someone who might potentially not have any reputation or track record, which can be high risk. It has been proven that new accounts are a lot more likely to be scammers or fraudsters, and the Escrow system wants to check that the trade is completely legit before it is completed.
Particularly High-Value Trades:
Even if you both have solid accounts, Escrow will still often be applied if your trade involves high-value items, especially if they’re very rare skins, cases, or weapons. Understandably, the higher the value of the items that are being exchanged, the higher the risk of a scam. Because of this, Steam’s system will look out for these trades and trigger Escrow to make sure that both parties honor the trade and don’t try to back out once one part of the trade has gone through.
The Trade Includes Unverified Items
If your trade involves a newly acquired item – like a newly opened case or skins from an unverified source, it could be another reason that Escrow is activated. These items could potentially be flagged up as suspicious because they haven’t had the time to be verified by the system, which makes them more prone to fraudulent trades.
Based on Recent Trade Activity or Behavior:
If you or your trading partner have recently been involved in a trade dispute, a trade ban, or even reported for behaving suspiciously, then Steam might decide to automatically trigger Escrow for whatever trades you or they make in the future. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they think you’re an untrustworthy player, but they are just taking precautions to make sure that their regular, high-value players are protected from potential scams from an account that’s already had questions raised.
First-Time Trading with a Player:
You might also find Escrow being activated if you’re trading with someone that you’ve never interacted with before. Again, this is to try to protect you from the risk of dealing with a player who already has a history of fraud or unfair trading practices… especially if it’s a high-value trade!
How to Use CSGO Escrow for Safe Trading
Trading can be fun… but you need to make sure it’s done safely so you don’t find yourself falling victim to a scam or con artist. As such, here are some of our tips on how you can use Escrow effectively:
1: Make Sure You Enable Steam Guard and Two-Factor Authentication
Before you go ahead with any trade, make sure that you have enabled both Steam Guard and two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account. Steam Guard adds that extra layer of security as it stops other people from being able to get into your account – so only you, as the account holder, will be able to authorize trades.
2: Only Trade With a Trusted Player
Whenever possible, only trade with players that have a good reputation on Steam or on third-party marketplaces – as those players that have a good trade history and an established account are a lot less likely to be scammers. Realistically, even if the deal looks great, you should try to avoid trading with anyone who has a newly created or unverified account.
3: Avoid Unnecessary Third-Party Sites
There are lots of different websites out there now that offer CSGO skins for trade – and whilst there are some great ones out there, it always pays to be cautious. Avoid any site that asks for your Steam login information, or you think that it’s offering a deal that seems too good to be true. As the saying goes – “if it looks too good to be true, it usually is!” If and when possible, use Steam’s own trading system because this will automatically use Escrow for a fair trading experience.
4: Check The Item’s Rarity and Prices
Before you agree to any trade, double-check its current price and the rarity of the items that are being exchanged. It’s quick and easy… and you can do it using various third-party sites or even Steam’s own marketplace so that you can verify the market value of items. This will hopefully prevent you from being on the rough end of a deal where the value of the other item has been misrepresented – on purpose or otherwise.
5: Verify The Details of the Item
When you’re initiating a trade, make sure you check the details of the items being offered carefully, as there are scammers out there that might try to trick you into accepting an item that isn’t worth as much – like offering a “stat-trak” item that isn’t actually Stat-Trak or an item with the wrong wear details. Always make sure that you confirm all the details of the items before you confirm the trade.
6: Avoid Direct Trades for Real Money
You should always avoid trading your Counter-Strike skins for real money using any platform outside of Steam, as this is a very common scam. There are lots of scammers out there that lure players in by offering them decent amounts of cash for skins, only to then disappear with the items – no payment forthcoming. Stick to trading your items for other items… preferably through Steam’s trade system that gives you Escrow protection.
The Most Common Issues with CSGO Escrow
While Escrow is a great feature in essence, there can be times when it does cause certain issues with players. These issues could be because of misunderstandings, technical problems, or simply because people might not be familiar with how Escrow works.
As such, it’s a good idea to make sure you familiarize yourself with any potential problems so that you’re fully prepared – and avoid too many unnecessary frustrations when making a trade.
These are some of the most common issues you might come across with CSGO Escrow.
Long Escrow Periods
One of the most common complaints people have with CSGO Escrow is how long they’re left waiting. Yes – the Escrow process has been designed to protect both players, but sometimes this can delay the trade for several hours or – even days, depending on what items are being traded and the players involved in the trade.
For players with new Steam accounts or trades that involve specifically high-value items, the Escrow period can last as long as 48 hours. Although it can help prevent scams, it can be very frustrating if you’re looking for a quick trade.
Escrow Doesn’t Apply to Some Trades
Another issue you might face is that there are times when Escrow doesn’t apply to a trade – when it really should. This usually happens in a situation where the system fails to trigger Escrow protection, like if an item has been incorrectly flagged as verified or if your trade involves lots of low-value items that add up to high value. As a result, you may find yourself trading with very little (or no) protection in a high-risk situation, which could leave you vulnerable.
If you’re not sure whether Escrow should be applied to your trade, make sure you check your trade carefully yourself.. and look for any potential warning signs from Steam regarding your trade.
Trade Restrictions on New Accounts
When players are trying to trade with a new account, it’s likely they’ll find various restrictions that will stop them from using the Escrow system as expected. If a new account is under a limited or probationary status, it might come with more restrictions on trading… such as not being able to use the Escrow system until they work their way up to a certain level of account activity.
Obviously, this is there to prevent fraud, but if you are a legitimate new user who wants to trade, it can be really frustrating. If you do have a new account and are facing such restrictions, just try to comfort yourself with the fact that these limitations are there for your safety … and they should be lifted eventually – when you’ve completed a certain number of activities.
Escrow Notifications Can Be Confusing
Escrow trade notifications are sometimes a little bit unclear and confusing. When you make a trade that’s placed into Escrow, you’ll get a notification telling you that the trade is in Escrow and what its terms are. However, the message doesn’t go into much detail… and it can be confusing.
So, for example, it might not be clear whether both of the players need to confirm the trade or how long your items will be locked for. And, if there are any misunderstandings regarding the terms of the trade, you could potentially delay or even cancel the trade entirely. You could think you’ve confirmed the trade when you haven’t – and if there’s a high-value trade, this can be really annoying.
Escrow Period Expiration
If the players don’t OK the trade by the end of the Escrow period, the trade will automatically be cancelled. There are various reasons this could happen… players might forget to confirm the trade or one of the players involved might decide to back out on purpose. Once the Escrow period has expired, then any item involved in the trade will then be returned to their owners.
There are some cases where players don’t actually realize how much time is left in the Escrow process – which could lead to a rushed, last-minute confirmation. So, make sure you keep track of the Escrow timer, check for any expiration warnings, and make sure everyone is ready to confirm on time.
Escrow Issues on Third-Party Websites
Lots of players use third-party websites to make their trades – but unfortunately, many of these websites aren’t as integrated with Steam’s Escrow system as you’d like, which could lead to potential problems when you’re making a trade on one of these sites. Because third-party sites usually come with their own systems for handling trades, they don’t always necessarily trigger Steam’s Escrow – which means you’re more at risk of a scam.
So, if you are using a third-party, make sure for yourself that you’re satisfied the trade is secure, check the legitimacy of the platform, and look to see whether Escrow protection is in place.
Escrow Is Not Always Triggered for Certain Trade Combinations
There are times when certain trade combinations won’t trigger Escrow protection even when you’re expecting it. So, for example, if you’re making a trade that involves a lot of different items from the same player or it’s a trade that has a mix of low and high-value skins, it could potentially bypass Escrow because of Steam’s automated flagging system.
So, make sure you double-check the items in your trade before you agree to the transaction – and if you do notice something strange, such as Escrow not being triggered on a high-value trade, maybe cancel it and get yourself protected.
It’s Hard to Dispute Escrow Trades
If you have a problem with Escrow – like you think that the trade was unfair or that something did go wrong, disputing it can be a long, drawn-out and frustrating process. Steam will usually ask you to provide detailed evidence, including screenshots, Steam profiles, and your description of what the problem is. This process can be really frustrating and time-consuming – especially in a big-value trade!
The Escrow and Steam Market Restrictions
Another issue is that Escrow won’t apply to any items that are bought from or sold on the Steam Market. So, if you buy an item from the Steam Market and then try to trade it, Escrow may well be triggered if it’s a high-value item or you have a new account. However, you can’t trade items from the Steam Market until they’ve been in your inventory for a certain amount of time. This can add some complications to the timing of your trade – and make the whole process longer.
Conclusion
So – hopefully, you now know everything you need to know about Escrow, how it works and what it’s all about. Make sure you do the checks yourself before any trade, be patient if Escrow is triggered… and remember, it’s there for your protection!
Happy Trading!
FAQs
What is the Point of the CSGO Escrow system?
It’s been designed to give CSGO trades an extra layer of security. It temporarily holds all the items that are being exchanged until both players confirm the trade – to help protect players against scams.
How long is the Escrow holding period?
It can last anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours, depending on what’s being traded, and the players involved.
How will I know if Escrow is being applied to my trade?
If Escrow is being applied to your trade, you’ll get a message in the trade window that will inform you of the holding period.
Can I cancel a trade during the Escrow period?
No, you can’t cancel it, per se. But, if you don’t confirm it on time, it will be automatically cancelled anyway.
Can I avoid Escrow?
Not really – only by making sure that you’re not using a new account to make the trade and you aren’t trading really high value items – as this is what generally triggers Escrow.