Plain answers about how protected payments work for sellers and buyers. No jargon.
OKO-TO helps WhatsApp and Instagram sellers accept protected payments so buyers can pay with more confidence. Instead of asking a buyer to transfer money blindly, sellers share a protected payment link. The payment is only released once delivery is confirmed or the agreed conditions are met.
OKO-TO is a protected payment link for WhatsApp and Instagram sellers. Sellers create a payment link for an order, send it to the buyer, and the buyer pays through the link. No more sending money blindly to someone you do not know.
A seller creates a protected payment link, the buyer reviews the order details and pays, the seller delivers the item, and the payment is released once delivery is confirmed or the agreed release condition is met.
OKO-TO uses escrow-style protection, but it is designed to be much simpler than traditional escrow. Escrow is the protection mechanism. OKO-TO is the protected checkout experience built for social commerce sellers.
OKO-TO is for sellers who sell through WhatsApp, Instagram DMs, stories, and social media. It is especially useful for fashion sellers, thrift vendors, hair and beauty sellers, sneaker resellers, and gadget sellers — anyone closing deals over a DM.
Sellers can use OKO-TO to build trust with first-time buyers. Instead of asking someone to transfer directly, you send a protected payment link. The buyer feels safer completing the order and you close more sales.
We are designing OKO-TO to be as lightweight as possible. Our goal is for sellers to create and share protected payment links without requiring buyers to download anything.
The seller gets paid after the buyer confirms delivery, or after the agreed release condition is met. If there is a dispute, the release may be paused until the issue is reviewed.
This may depend on the seller’s setup. In some cases the buyer may pay the protection fee. In other cases the seller may cover it, or it may be split. We are working through the best model with early sellers during the validation phase.
Fake alerts cannot work on OKO-TO because the buyer does not transfer directly to the seller. Payment goes through a regulated payment processor via the OKO-TO link. The processor verifies the payment is real before anything is confirmed. The seller only receives a notification to ship after the funds have been genuinely received and held. No direct bank transfer means no fake alert risk.
Buyers can use OKO-TO to avoid sending money blindly to someone they do not know. The payment is protected until delivery is confirmed. If something goes wrong, there is a clear way to raise the issue.
No. The buyer should be able to open the protected payment link in their browser, review the order details, and pay from there — without downloading anything.
If you did not receive your order or something went wrong, you can raise a dispute. OKO-TO will review the transaction details and available evidence before deciding what happens next. The payment is not released until the situation is resolved.
Payments are processed through secure payment infrastructure. OKO-TO uses escrow-style protection, meaning the funds are temporarily held and not released to the seller until the agreed conditions are met. The release terms are set at the time the payment link is created.
Funds are held from the time the buyer pays until delivery is confirmed. The timeline depends on the delivery window agreed in the payment link. After the seller ships and the buyer receives the item, the buyer has a review window to confirm or raise a dispute. If no action is taken after that window, funds are automatically released to the seller.
The buyer has a set review window after delivery. If they do not confirm or raise a dispute within that window, the funds are automatically released to the seller. Sellers are not left waiting indefinitely because a buyer stopped responding.
Funds are released when the buyer confirms delivery, or when the buyer review window expires without a dispute being raised. Both conditions are defined when the payment link is created, so both sides know the rules before any money moves.
If something goes wrong, either side can raise a dispute. OKO-TO will review the transaction details and available evidence before deciding what happens next. Disputes are reviewed fairly. Both buyer and seller are heard.
Disputes are reviewed by OKO-TO using the evidence submitted by both sides. Both the buyer and seller can provide proof. Payout decisions are based on the original transaction terms and the evidence provided. Neither side has an automatic advantage.
Accepted delivery proof includes: dispatch receipt, waybill, tracking number, rider confirmation, or a delivery photo. The more documentation a seller keeps throughout the process, the stronger their position in any dispute. Always get something in writing when handing over an item.
Neither side. That is the point. Disputes are reviewed based on the agreed terms and whatever evidence is available. Both buyer and seller have a voice. Honest sellers are protected from false claims. Buyers are protected from non-delivery.
Custom items like wigs, tailoring, made-to-order pieces, and personalised products can be sold through OKO-TO. The seller should clearly describe the item and production timeline in the payment link before the buyer pays. What was agreed is what both sides are held to. If the custom item is not delivered as described, the buyer can raise a dispute.
Yes. Dropshippers and sellers who source items can use OKO-TO, but they must clearly state delivery timelines and whether the item is being sourced from a third-party supplier before the buyer pays. OKO-TO supports two order types: in-stock items and sourced items. Buyers see the order type and full delivery terms before paying.
OKO-TO is currently in early access. Sellers who join the waitlist and get selected for early access will have zero platform fees for their first month. After that, we will introduce a small transaction fee per completed order. We will be clear about the fee structure before it goes live. Nobody will be surprised by a charge they did not know about.
OKO-TO is currently in early access. We are onboarding sellers, collecting feedback, and preparing controlled tests with real transactions. We are not fully live yet — but we are close, and early sellers will be first in.
Yes. If you sell through WhatsApp or Instagram, you can join the seller waitlist and we will contact selected sellers for early access. Early sellers get zero platform fees for their first month and direct onboarding support from our team.
We will review your details and reach out on WhatsApp when your early access is ready. We may also ask for a short conversation to understand how you currently sell, so we can set you up properly. We will not spam you.
Yes. Dropshippers and sellers who source items can use OKO-TO, but they must clearly state delivery timelines and whether the item is being sourced from a third-party supplier before the buyer pays. OKO-TO supports two order types: in-stock items (the seller holds the item and handles delivery directly) and sourced items (the seller fulfils through a supplier or dropshipping partner). Buyers see the order type and full delivery terms before paying.
Join the waitlist and mention your question in the Instagram handle field, or reach out to us directly. We are a small team and we read everything. Your question may also help us improve this page for other sellers.
Join the OKO-TO seller waitlist. Zero fees for your first month and direct support from our team when you get started.