User doesn't exist? Anyone else have this from their activity feed?

[Former_Member]

I've noticed an alarming trend in my activity feed. I'm getting 5-6 likes of items from a single user, but when I click on their name, it takes me to a broken link, saying....

"uh oh, this user doesn't exist."

Anyone know what's going on with this?

They're always people, and there are always photos of a person in the avatar.

[Zuparoo]

I've noticed the same thing in the past few days, but have no clue what's up.

[Former_Member]

This has been happening a lot. It's spammers favoriting tons of stuff in the hope that you will click on them and read their profile, which has offsite links to "marketing" services. Not worth it, ever.
I would have said report them, as Etsy is trying hard to track them down, but it seems they beat you to it this time.

[Former_Member]

Spam bots, there have been a lot recently and as soon as Etsy finds them they are removed so hence the uh oh as the users have been taken off. There are loads of threads about this on Success, Site Help, Business and elsewhere about this.

[Former_Member]

Hmm. Thanks.! I figured it was some sort of spam.

[Former_Member]

I noticed the same! I hope they shut them down promptly.
When I clicked on the avatar it took me to the uh oh page. The weird thing is that they liked my items in the previous 5-10 min. How is that even possible?
If the user doesn't exist how can they like items within 5 min???
Clueless...
And for the marketing people, just ignore them and go on with my life...

[Former_Member]

I have been getting this also and only clicked on one. I am kind of worried about signing into my paypal or bank accounts now. Does anyone think it is safe or even a possibility??

[Zuparoo]

Amanda- There shouldn't be anything to worry about with PP or bank accts. Unless you followed a spam link and gave them acct info.

[Former_Member]

Have been "Favorited" by these spammers recently too. Luckily, ETSY has found them too. Just too bad that such a great site is being victimized . Happy to see that ETSY is onto them though. Hope no victims among the ETSY crowd.

[Former_Member]

Glad to know that's what it about. I have seen three or four of these guys in the past 2 weeks or so. Bummer. And here I thought I was so popular!

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much Cindy!
Now I am getting numerous likes from people with no photo at all. What a bummer such a great site and artists have to deal with this :(

[Former_Member]

I haven't stumbled across this myself. Maybe because I only add people to my circle that have added me to theirs..

[Former_Member]

I got that last week, her profile talked all about the importance of pinterest, etc. then 5 minutes later she favorited more, I clicked and it said she didn't exist. But the first time, she had 450, 000 favorites, and joined that day! I add people to my circle if they favorite something of mine, but I check their profile first.

[ionesAttic]

I was hit by the bots for several days in a row.
I reported 3 of them promptly, and have had none for at least a week.
Alert the integrity team at trust@etsy.com.

[Former_Member]

Hmm i only add people to my circle who I have met or are on my teams. I get at least 5 favorited (that"s not a word is it?? Lol) a day. I do not want to click on them incase it is some sort of virus or something so how do I report them?
Thanks for any input!