[members-discuss] IP transfer (in)security

Hi Dana,

We are RIPE brokers and the use of escrow is an appropriate way to ensure safety for both parties.
We haven't dealt with you so I am free to comment.

The key is to establish the release of funds to the seller is connected to the definition of a successful transfer performed by RIPE.
Usually we ensure the relevant Whois entries have been changed, and can be confirmed by the escrow agent via RIPE's public Whois server.
The assumption is that the change in Whois is the definition of transfer completion.

If Whois does not change within a specified time period, or parties are notified by RIPE of a failed transfer, then the escrow agent returns funds to the buyer.

This structure is important because in every transfer there is an uncontrollable third-party (RIPE) with veto power.

We have completed over 500 transfers, and in only one case was there a Whois change that was later challenged by RIPE, and that was a legacy transfer which has certain different 
characteristics from a non-legacy transfer.

So your broker is steering you in the right direction to ensure protection for both buyer and seller. You just need a trustworthy third-party to act as escrow agent, somebody 
unrelated to buyer or seller whom both trust to hold the funds while RIPE processes the transfer, and releases to seller upon completion or back to buyer if the transfer fails.

Most escrow agents will release funds to the seller with the buyer acceptance of the completion of the transfer. Buyer acknowledges receipt, and funds are then released. We prefer 
escrow agents who do not require buyer release, but who can depend on monitoring and verifying Whois changes themselves, since RIPE makes the data publicly accessible. Then when 
Whois changes, there is no way for the buyer to prevent release of funds to the seller for any reason.

We find IPv4 transfer to be largely risk-free with the use of appropriate escrow agents. You should get reference from the escrow agent of course.

Regards and good luck,
Mike Burns







------- Original Message -------
>From    : Dana Konkin (Onwave)[mailto:Dana.Konkin at onwave.com]
Sent    : 5/9/2018 7:54:37 AM
To      : members-discuss at ripe.net
Cc      : 
Subject : RE: [members-discuss] IP transfer (in)security

 

Greetings all.
 
We have gone to a RIPE broker to obtain IPs that we badly need for upcoming customers. Never having been through this process before I am slightly timid because of the cost of IPs 
these days, and so the plan is to use escrow.

So,  my question relates to how to avoid getting my employer to hand out a wad of cash without a clear means to be totally secure that they will be able to use the IPs.
 
Is it possible to obtain from RIPE a guaranteed way for the Escrow agent to check with 100% accuracy that the IP transfer has been accepted by RIPE, that we can begin announcing 
and using the prefix, and that my company is safe to release
 money to the seller of the IP addresses?
 
 
 
 
Thanks very much
Dana
 
PS -My apology for not being able to find any previous answer to this in the archives.