Crazy story. I question if there’s really someone out there that would put a $2,500 deposit down with a stranger they met on telegram for a writing project, but I guess crazier things have happened. This is a good example of how escrow could have gotten the seller their full payment after the disappearance of the buyer, but again, seems like a bit of a tale to me.
If I am not mistakenly I have came across similar story with exact amount as mentioned by op, does it mean that is same story since then or what?
Sometimes it's very hard to believe cooked and formulated stories that is very hard to believe. Giving out such amount of funds and disappeared without even having to get the job to know if it was delivered as said, then who is running at lost? The op or his clients and who should get bothered that much if I may ask?