Checking digital downloads before you confirm receipt

Digital files are easy to sell and just as easy to misdescribe. These checks protect each purchase.

Types of digital downloads

• Fonts (TTF, OTF or WOFF files)
• Icon packs (SVG, PNG or icon fonts)
• Lightroom presets (.xmp or .dng files)
• WordPress plugins (.zip files)
• Stock photos, video and audio
• Code snippets (.js, .py or .php files)

What to check

Before you confirm receipt:

1. Download every file from the deal chat
2. Open each one to check it isn't corrupted
3. Check the formats match the listing
4. Count the items (a "100 icons" listing needs 100 files)
5. Look for the license terms
6. Scan for malware (optional, but sensible)

Common problems

• Missing files, such as 40 presets when the listing said 50
• The wrong format, like PNG files sold as SVG
• Corrupted files that won't open or import
• Stolen content, meaning free material being resold
• Malware in executable files posing as digital products

How escrow protects you

With escrow:

• You receive the files in the deal chat
• You download and check everything
• If anything is missing or broken, you tell the seller
• You confirm receipt only when everything is right
• If the seller can't fix it, you open a dispute and a human moderator reviews it

On EPICSWP, the assistant Aegis also watches deal chats for scam patterns and can summarize a dispute for the moderator.

Pricing guide

The license matters as much as the files: personal use costs less than commercial or extended use, so check which you're getting. Be wary of a premium font or plugin sold far below its usual price, which can mean it's stolen.