<p>LocalBitcoins use escrow, so you will be safe.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T19:03:11.533Z
You could improve the answer by adding some more detail. Is escrow always enabled? How does it work?
D.H.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T13:24:13.110Z
2013-02-16T18:59:46.513Z
2013-02-16T18:59:46.513Z
vishnuchips
<p>Meet him at a public place and do the exchange using a phone bitcoin-app and cash. Make sure that his reputation is worth more than a possible robbery/scam.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T13:06:38.893Z
2013-02-16T13:06:38.893Z
user2936
<p>I am going to buy bitcoins for the first time from a seller on LocalBitcoins. He says that funds can be transferred via internet banking. He seems to have good feedback, 9+ reviews but I am kind of nervous. What exact steps should be followed for a smooth transaction?
My plan is:</p>

<ol>
<li>Send him my wallet address, and then wait for him to transfer the bitcoins.</li>
<li>Upon successful transaction, I send him the required amount through an online bank transaction.</li>
<li>??</li>
<li>Profit</li>
</ol>

<p>I hope I am doing this right. Please advise.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T09:43:08.783Z
so, you receive bitcoins first?!
vi.su.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T14:58:34.743Z
local means local, i.e. hard money changes hands live... if you are going to use banking anyway, you can  just use Mt. Gox...
o0'.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T18:23:22.907Z
If he has a reputation and you don't, of course he won't send first. Either you send first, you meet or you use escrow.
Meni Rosenfeld
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-16T18:24:09.943Z
@Lohoris: Using Mtgox has several issues, the $50 fee for international wire being one of them. A local bank transfer is completely different.
Meni Rosenfeld
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-12T13:56:02.343Z
Related question: [How do I buy Bitcoins safely face-to-face](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13117/5406)
Murch
<buy-bitcoins><localbitcoins>
I am going to buy bitcoins for the first time from a seller on LocalBitcoins. Please guide me.
Ashwin Singh
# I am going to buy bitcoins for the first time from a seller on LocalBitcoins. Please guide me.

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-16)

I am going to buy bitcoins for the first time from a seller on LocalBitcoins. He says that funds can be transferred via internet banking. He seems to have good feedback, 9+ reviews but I am kind of nervous. What exact steps should be followed for a smooth transaction?
My plan is:

1. Send him my wallet address, and then wait for him to transfer the bitcoins.
2. Upon successful transaction, I send him the required amount through an online bank transaction.
3. ??
4. Profit

I hope I am doing this right. Please advise.

**Tags:** buy-bitcoins, localbitcoins

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: so, you receive bitcoins first?!  
> **username_2**: local means local, i.e. hard money changes hands live... if you are going to use banking anyway, you can  just use Mt. Gox...  
> **username_3**: If he has a reputation and you don't, of course he won't send first. Either you send first, you meet or you use escrow.  
> **username_3**: @Lohoris: Using Mtgox has several issues, the $50 fee for international wire being one of them. A local bank transfer is completely different.  
> **username_4**: Related question: [How do I buy Bitcoins safely face-to-face](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/13117/5406)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2013-02-16. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Meet him at a public place and do the exchange using a phone bitcoin-app and cash. Make sure that his reputation is worth more than a possible robbery/scam.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2013-02-16. Score: -1

LocalBitcoins use escrow, so you will be safe.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: You could improve the answer by adding some more detail. Is escrow always enabled? How does it work?  

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