HELP!

[KristilynsTreasures]

A week ago I received a message from Etsy staff stating there was a purchase made in my store, but there were technical difficulties.   They asked to confirm my email.  Once confirmed, they said they were sending an email for me to confirm my store then I would be able to see the order.  Just to note, this conversation is showing in my messages on my app.

In the meantime the customer messaged me because they could not see the order, but their card was charged.  I explained what the situation was and that I was working with Etsy.

I never received the email to confirm, but when I tried to reply to either of these 2 messages an error messages shows that says "Message cannot be sent, if this continues notify etsy support."

I have sent 4 emails through Etsy support and no one is getting back to me.  This is so frustrating.  The customer has been charged and I cannot reach anyone to help me.  I have great feedback and I cannot even see this order!!  There isn't a phone number to call!!  I even sent screen shots of the messages and nothing, no replies!!!

[Vintorious]

These sound like scammers to me.

Etsy will never ask for your email: they already have it.

The "my card was charged" is probably going to land you in a situation where they send a doctored screenshot to 'prove' they spent money when they didn't. You weren't able to send the message, because Etsy deactivated the account.

[BeeTreeltd]

It is a scam please ask Etsy to give you a call back. Protect your account 

[Vintorious]

If they gave any financial information, they need to call their bank first and foremost.

[KristilynsTreasures]

I have, I've sent several emails to etsy, included my phone number, asked them to call.  I've heard nothing, it's very frustrating!

[vintageNCtreasures]

@KristilynsTreasures 

Etsy won't call you, you have to request a call back through the HELP pages.

Etsy also does NOT publish a phone # anywhere.

If you find a phone # through Google, Bing etc, it's NOT Etsy's phone #.

Why do you need Etsy to call?
There's nothing Etsy can do. 
There's plenty of help on the help pages/announcement page and should have been on your message page regarding these scam messages.
You need to mark those messages as SPAM.

You can't reply to those messages because Etsy deleted those accounts before they scammed you out of $100's of dollars.

There is NOT a buyer, there is NO order from this supposed buyer, no matter what that message states.

Etsy has YOUR email, you don't need to confirm anything. It's a SCAM to steal your money.

Etsy will never send you a message to verify anything, not with a order, your account, nothing.
ALL messages from Etsy will be in the FROM ETSY section (unless you use the new Etsy app and you need to use a browser.
If it's not there, it's not from Etsy, doesn't matter what that message says.

[VintageRescueSquad]

These are SCAMS. Even if a buyer had a "problem" buying something, they have to contact etsy themselves.

The messages most likely cannot be sent because etsy deleted the scam accounts.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

@KristilynsTreasures 

Scammers are everywhere, trying to get financial information from sellers.

You've had some orders already, you know how it works, how the order will show up in your shop manager/shop dashboard.

You weren't able to reply because Etsy deleted the scammers' account.

The forums are full of posts from sellers, many new, who are getting hit with these fake messages, supposedly from Etsy.

Best to mark as spam, so they don't count against your reply rating, and don't give them another thought.

There is no buyer who was charged and there are no technical difficulties.

[KristilynsTreasures]

They have not asked me for any info, other than to confirm my email.  They didn't ask for my email, they asked to confirm my email.  

If they had a phone number, it would prevent things like this from happening as often.

[TimeSpanTreasures · Accepted solution]

@KristilynsTreasures 

And how would you confirm your email, but by giving it to them?

That is the first step these scammers use- if someone is gullible enough to "confirm" their email, they follow up asking for more information, such as banking info.

Everything Etsy will tell you via phone or email can be found in this Etsy help article.

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

If you get any more messages, you can just mark as spam and don't give them a second thought.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@KristilynsTreasures   Did you notice the small box in messages that says to be aware of scams?  The forums are full of this.

Yes that is a scam followed by an email from the buyer supposedly showing a fake order.  This is one of the many versions.

You cannot spam on the app.  You will need to use the browser version on your phone to spam.

Please be aware of the information Etsy has posted on this.  They are removing the scammers as fast as they can.

There is nothing actually Etsy can do for you.  Spam the messages.

Etsy messages appear in the Etsy folder only. Anyplace else is a scam.  Etsy will not use messages to contact you about a problem with orders.  Orders appear in your shop under orders and you receive an email confirmation.  If there is a problem, Etsy does not contact.  If there is a problem they fix it without contact or they talk to their payment processor.

You may want to consider changing your email or at least be aware that scammers have your email and they can commit fraud with it.

[mommawhazelsquilts]

A phone number would not help in these cases.  

As one poster said, how else could you confirm your email other than by giving it to them?

If you get a message like this again either spam it or tell the "scammers" to contact Etsy that you can't help them.

[BagmakerSupply]

@KristilynsTreasures: "A week ago I received a message from Etsy staff ..." Was the Message in the "From Etsy" section on your Messages page? See https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497#M1899 (but apparently this is only true when using a browser). If not, then it was a scammer.

[KristilynsTreasures]

Thank you everyone.  I went back in with my computer, not my phone app.  There are many more options going through the computer than the app.  I can see when I click on the profile that it does not exist.  Also on the webpage, I can see where I can sort the messages from Etsy and that is not available on the mobile app and it shows no messages from Etsy.

Here is my biggest issue, why has Etsy not replied to me in a week?!  The scammers could have sent me an email asking for all kinds of information during that week, trying to "straighten" out the issue.  A quick reply to my email with a couple of sentences stating that this was not from Etsy, the account was removed and not to reply to anything from them would have solved many sleepless nights and a lot of frustration for me.  Not to mention, the damage that could have been done in a week by a scammer.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

Etsy has recently cut its staff by 11%, it was the holiday season, and Etsy is bombarded with queries/problems every day, and responses are often slow.

I usually look to the forums when I have an issue, and I can usually find answers here, or in Etsy's help center articles.

I know if I send an email, it will take a while for them to get back to me; luckily, I've not had any serious issues that needed direct help from Etsy.

These scammer messages were not a problem when I first started on Etsy, it wasn't a problem a couple of years ago, but it's been a real problem in the last year or so, I think.

Etsy is trying to shut these scammer accounts down as quickly as they can, but they keep popping up. They need to do better, though- it's really sad to see so many sellers hit by these messages, and even sadder to see that some have fallen for them, and lost money.

[ArtDollsbyJD]

@KristilynsTreasures   How did you contact Etsy?  Under Contact us?  If not then Etsy never received the email.

As to the reduction that was not in the support area but another dept that was eliminated.

It helps to visit the forums as well as read what is on the dashboard.

Also finish your shop.  The more your shop looks complete, the more the scammers tend to find someone else.  Your about page is needed. 

[OmasFabricStash]

If the scammers had called you on the phone would you have given out information about your email, credit card, or bank account? I really hope not because they are probably strangers saying they are from Etsy, or Amazon, or eBay. You know better than to give out information to strangers but so many people will trust a message or email from someone saying they are Etsy staff. 
I hate to see it but now you can trust nobody on the phone, email, or snail mail. Make sure to contact the site they say they are from and don’t reply to the message. It looks like few people have been taught the basics of scammers and what to watch for. 
Remember, if you wouldn’t give the information to a total stranger on the street then don’t give it to someone on the phone or email. 

[JustMeToo]

@JDTotesnDolla  You are correct.  The staff cut couldn't have been in the support area.  There was no one there to cut.

[KristilynsTreasures]

I did contact them under contact etsy.   I will definitely visit the forums more often, everyone has been very helpful.  I will definitely finish my store.  

[PeakyLighters]

I got scammed as well. Because I'm new seller on Etsy it was'nt surprising to clic a verification link for the account from "Etsy suppot" with the logo after first purchase. Esty has its responsability in all of this: the fact that they let profiles with their logo being created, not having an official chat support, not responding to assistance messages, not deleting this scam messages from your mail box (even if they delete the fake account it's still there in your mail box) you can't understand it's fake when it's your first transaction ! 

[fifthcorps]

What you're lamenting describes the very reason these scams are so ubiquitous.

Etsy does not "let" scammers use their logo, they are victims just like yourself.

You are the master of your account, so if you wish to remove a message then you need to designate it SPAM. If Etsy usurped the shop owners by deciding what messages in your basket are spam and remove them arbitrarily, then the Sellers would raise an unholy wail! 

[CoquetteBath]

I'm not trying to dump on you but this is exactly the reason why they are picking on newer stores. But...the scammer is counting on folks being excited for that first sale, ignorant of how this works, and also...anxious.

much like I'm owed SO much money (some prince keeps informing me that I need to send him my 'collection credentials' to get my money)...folks fall for it. If they didn't...

the scammers would try something new.

but a bit of logical thought here...you know you provided information to open your shop. WHY would Etsy ask you for it again?

not dissing anyone who falls for it, but...take a step back and think about any thing you get via a message. Particularly if it involves you providing up any information or scanning a code or clicking a link.

Etsy HAS this data. They do not need it again.

[KristilynsTreasures]

Yes, agreed.  Had I been able to pick up the phone and call someone, it would have ended way before it did.

They didn't get anything from me besides my email.  I did not get anything from them and I did not click on any links.  So I'm good.  I'm also not one to click on any links in my email that I myself didn’t solicit. 

[mommawhazelsquilts]

If Etsy had an open phone it would take an Army to man it.

Everyone that got a review they didn't like, etc., would be calling.

I can see why there is no open phone - that's all they would get done.

[KristilynsTreasures]

Just to be clear with everyone.  I did not click on any links sent to me.  It's been over a week and I still have not heard back from Etsy.  Pretty bad considering they have financial information for everybody on Etsy.  

Also, I have been selling for several months and have made a dozen sales.  Not my first sale so no first time excitement.  

To the ones that are chastisng me, shameful.  I hope you never get scammed.

As a side note, I tried to find a phone number to contact Etsy.  I found one and called the number, took me seconds to figure out that that number was a scam as well.   When I called him out on it, he got feisty. Haha.  So much of this scam garbage could be eliminated if Etsy had a contact number for matters involving financial matters, suspected scams, etc.