Etsy processes are really messed up

[FultraGlass]

I've been a member since 2010 and have always had payments come directly from my CC on file.  I've never had an issue, until today.   I created a new listing and then got an email from Esty wanting me to verify me since it's my first sale -- IT IS NOT.   So, that's the first issue, why am I being asked to verify my account.   But, I did and it keeps spinning - then asks for my CC balance?   That seems very shady that they want my credit card balance to verify me?

I finally got to support by picking incorrect options on purpose and giving feedback that it wasn't helpful.  Only then was I offered an option to chat.   The person I chatted with simply said he'd pass on my information and then said thanks and ended the chat.

So, my shop is suspended until they get it fixed.   Seems like horrible process to me.  Am I alone in this?

[DOKOcreations]

That’s a SCAM, not Etsy! Contact your bank immediately to cancel that credit card, if you entered that info.

edited to add: Your shop is NOT suspended

[ExtremeCreation]

Did the message come from the Etsy Folder of your messages? If not, then it may be a scammer posing as Etsy to get your personal info. 

It was not Etsy. If you think about it...Who really even asks for your credit card balance? 

Contact the real Etsy Support using help center from you shop manager. Do not click on a link from those messages stating they are Etsy.

Since you already gave them some info. I believe you should cancel the credit card and request a new one with a new credit card number, change your Etsy password, email passwords and online banking passwords. I would also contact your bank for possible fraud. 

[ButterflyFeetDigital]

Things to read:

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/Protect-Your-Account-From-Scammers/m-p/143158945#M1882

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Managing-Your-Shop/How-to-Spot-a-Scam-No-a-Buyer-Doesn-t-Need-Your-Ema...

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497#M1899

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Handle-Spam-and-Suspicious-Messages

Scammers have been at it for a few years now, mostly targeting new shops.

[PowderBlueBijoux]

Your shop is not suspended, I can see it open. That was a scam, contact your bank immediately before the scammer withdraws funds.

[LynnsLittleShop]

Your shop is not suspended. 

[CarpetCollectionAU]

- "then asks for my CC balance"  This is the Red Flag which should have alerted you to the fact that this was not Etsy you are corresponding with because Etsy would never ask for CC Balance information,

[vintageNCtreasures]

@FultraGlass not sure what you mean by this "have always had payments come directly from my CC on file".

What payments come from your CC on file?
If you're referring to payments from sales on Etsy then they never go to a credit card on file, they go to your bank account.

The only thing that is ever charged to your CC is if you owe fees on the 1st of the month or if you have to refund an order and don't have the funds in your payment account to cover that refund.

Since you've been here a while did you not see this on the message page right BELOW that scam message?

"To stay protected, stay on Etsy. Never follow links to other sites, and don’t share contact, account, or financial info with anyone in Messages. Learn how to spot spam."

Plus they've been announcements, a gazillion threads on Etsy, info on the help pages about this scams that have been ongoing almost a year now. 

Etsy would NEVER ask you for a balance on a CC?
WTH would Etsy need to know this? They wouldn't.

Why would you think your shop is suspended? It's NOT.
If it was, I wouldn't see items for sale. 
All you have to do is go to your shop home page to see it is not suspended.

[FultraGlass]

Thank you all for the responses.    Weird thing is that when I contacted Etsy - directly from the ETSY site - he acted as if the message was from them.   

Now I feel foolish, but I'm not worried b/c my cc was not charged and it's closed down.

[PristinityJewelry]

Scam!  You've been phished.  Sorry, I'm sure it is frustrating.  But follow the advice of replies above.

[BagmakerSupply]

@FultraGlass: "So, my shop is suspended until they get it fixed." You can always confirm this by going to your shop home page. If Etsy suspended your shop, none of your listings would be visible and there would be a message put up by Etsy.

As an aside, you may want to complete your shop (i.e. About section, policies, etc) and also include in your listings what the 'Handmade' component is. Can totally see Etsy flagging you as a reseller.

It also looks like you were selling some items that used other people's intellectual property (Marvin the Martian, as an example). You need to include the licensing information for all of the trademarked and copyrighted names and images in your shop in your listing, otherwise buyers (and Etsy) may conclude they are counterfeits. And a buyer could file a not as described case against you and both get their money back and keep the item. Including the licensing information will show that you are not selling those items illegally.

[LastCentury]

Scammers especially love to pick on shops that look like they don't know what they are doing.

You have an incomplete shopfront with No shop policies, No About, No shop announcement. AND etsy penalizes incomplete shops in search.

AND if you asked for a shop critique you could benefit from some more good advice.