Vlogger SCAM!!!

[Former_Member]

I just got a convo yesterday from a person claiming to be a Youtube guru with more than 100,000 followers. This is what she wrote:

"Hi,
I recently found your etsy shop while doing some online window shopping. I love your shop, it has a lot of awesome items to choose from! I'm a fashion and beauty guru with 112,000+ subscribers. The link to my channel is www.youtube.com/pbbunny97 Would you like to collaborate with me to create a video featuring your products? This would be a great way to advertise your shop and also increase its popularity! I hope to hear back soon with your response!
Thanks so much, Polina :)"

I did my research because it sounded fishy to me, turns out this person is scamming Etsy shops, wanting free products that she will "review" on her channel for thousands to see.

Please beware! This is a scam! I contacted the actual Polina youtube person and she stated that it was not her who contacted me. Thank goodness I didn't fall for this nonsense.

There are many others like this, we have to be careful.

[NewBrideCo]

Thank you for sharing! I will be extra careful.

[PotteryLodge]

I had a very similar incident where someone contacted me through my instagram page. They said they loved my products and if I would be interested in doing business with the. They said they had a 100k following on instagram(which they did) and if I would send them a product and they would advertise it to their 100k followers. They told me to email me, which out of curiosity I did. I emailed and asked about more details. They continued on about wanting me to send them a product to review or if I wanted to buy Instagram followers from them which would make my instagram page look more 'popular'.

Anyways once I read about how they 'buy' instagram followers I pretty much figured they probably bought their own followers as well. Upon looking at how many picture likes they had on their own pictures, their 'likes' were rather low for someone with 100k followers so I knew at that point this was a scam of some kind.

I basically had the same thing happen to me again, but this time it was through tumblr. They wanted me to send them products to advertise to their 100k + follows on tumblr.

Both incidents were so similar I just assumed they are both scams...or at least I kind of hope they were or I just missed some amazing opportunities
: (

[Former_Member]

It is really sad that some people are doing this :(

[Former_Member]

for as long as there has been internet shopping, there have been people trying to get things for free.

If someone wants to create a video using any of my products, they are free to do so. As soon as they are paid for I'll ship them out the next day.

[TheSilverFindings]

Thanks for the tip. Sad how we have to be so wary but it happens all the time

[purplewyvernjewels]

I had someone similar approach me through a different selling site. I told them they were more than happy to review any of my products on their youtube channel, after purchasing any products they wanted. I never heard back from them.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for taking the time to pass this info on!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the info!!!

[Former_Member]

I don't understand why they want free stuff, it's not like i'm selling expensive items over here, these people won't buy a $4 dollar lip balm but will splurge hundred's at Sephora! They buy from big companies and advertise them for FREE, but won't even consider buying from a small handcrafted business? This makes no sense. I gets tons of requests from istagram people...i just want to tell them...just buy it!!!!! it's not going to burn a whole in your pocket! Let's support small business!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

These kind of scams are as old as internet selling.
You never want to fall for it.

[Former_Member]

I've had bloggers do the same thing. She wanted me to send her a product that would get all this exposure when she blogged about it. I checked out the blog and they had a couple of hundred followers but very few comments on posts or interactions with the few followers they did have.
I just told her I wasn't interested.

People will always try to get something for nothing. We just have to be careful to not fall for their schemes.

[PotteryLodge]

I agree BeaG, but as a new business owner I wasn't aware of this and almost fell for the temptation of getting over 100k people seeing my products. I think its great to keep this type of scam relevant because there are plenty of gullible shop owners(not saying that in a rude way, I'm pretty gullible myself) that would do almost anything to get their shop recognized.

What I found so weird is the two people that contacted me were KIDS from HIGH SCHOOL!! I even asked them how old they were because they looked about 12 in their pictures..so weird.

[ShapelyWood]

Good to know thanks for your post

[Former_Member]

I agree with you Casi,

I also got contacted by a teen and her mom wanting free stuff. It's ridiculous.
I haven't been on Etsy that long, and I didn't realize how many people try to scam shops. I bet they don't go around emailing department stores trying to get free stuff.

[Former_Member]

As I was writting the above message I literally got another convo from someone wanting free products for review! This is out of control! Why don't they buy?? Can someone please explain??

[PotteryLodge]

Really Alexandra!! One of the teens from instagram asked if I could send her two things..one for her and the other for her mom, because her mom loved my stuff..

I looked through her instagram pictures and she had comments on the pictures from friends at school, just normal conversations between teens. Where are they coming up with these ideas of getting free products when they seriously aren't but 16-18 years old??

[Former_Member]

So true Casi,

It's sad that the parents are also going along with this, what an example for the children!
This one mother daughter duo that contacted me, the daughter was 13!!! Posting pictures on instagram and claiming they will promote and in turn I will get sales. So sad.

[PotteryLodge]

Ya and this girl ensured me lots of sales, said google sponsors her blog and she makes $500 a month from google ads. Ya she really told me this. I wanted to tell her ''well if you're in high school, living at home, making $500 a month from google, then buy a product! Guess her little 'game' is making her some extra money though.

[Former_Member]

I get it all the time on my other shop. I usually link them my sample link and tell them they are welcome to purchase samples and post a non bias review. NONE has every bought any.