Help!! Having issues with customers placing orders

[ArtXpressions4U]

HELP! I just opened my store. 2 different customers messaged me and said they are trying to place an order but they need my email. I gave it to them, then I received and email from Etsy saying "Someone considering a purchase is intrigued by your product. Now, the final significant action is to validate this transaction. Use the button to proceed. I clicked on Proceed, and got an error message saying Sorry, you have been blocked You are unable to access [removed]. What does that mean?? I hope I don't lose my 1st customers!! Thank you for your help!

[nineteen27]

scam.

ignore them.

stop clicking on random links.

stop giving random people your email address.

stop talking to those people.

read this:

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

• Pretending to be a buyer who is having trouble checking out and needs your email to complete their purchase. They claim that by providing your email, you'll get a link to receive payment with further instructions. They may also include a fake screenshot meant to look like the Etsy site asking for them to input your email.

Your email is never required for a buyer to complete a purchase.

[TVations]

Bruh I just write all my debit card to them what do i do now? well, I'm cooked  

[PlatypusDream]

SCAM!!!!!!!

Do not give them your email - they just want to try to hack your store by impersonating Etsy.

They target new stores like yours.

[NspirationalArt]

Thank you! How can they get into my account with just my email?

[NspirationalArt]

Can they hack my store with just my email? I already gave it to them. 

[NspirationalArt]

Unfortunately I already gave it to them. What can I do at this point,??

[ZehOriginalArt]

@NspirationalArt 

Since you gave the scammers your email, be very cautious about any emails you get that appear to be from Etsy. Always go to your Etsy shop to check messages and DO NOT click on links in emails.

If you do not have 2 factor authentication set up for your account, do so.

If you actually clicked a link and entered bank info, change your shop password, your linked bank account and notify your bank of the scam. Run a malware scan of your device.

[VintageRescueSquad]

These are not "customers having issues placing orders"!!!! They are scamming you. That is not how the ordering process works. 

If a buyer really had a problem buying, they need to contact etsy, not you. It all happens seamlessly behind the scenes.

NEVER send a "buyer" your email or financial information.

[WahooDesigns]

I got one last night from an Etsy shop owner! Rather than send it to spam next time I might give them my email- yourekiddingme@scamalert.no 

[CryzalisDesigns]

might not be the best Idea, Etsy bots may think you are taking the sale away from Etsy, they can not tell the difference between a real email or a fake one

[Adorabilities]

"the final significant action" ?
Well, they're changing the wording at least. Too bad (for them) it now makes less sense.

[michellepatterns]

Scammers love etsy and focus on the new sellers since they might be naive.  That person is trying to steal your money and make your life miserable by messing with your financial information.  

[bradgoodell]

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

1. When you get a REAL sale, it will show on your shop dashboard and the money will show in your shop payment account.
2. If Etsy actually needs something from you, you would also access Etsy through your shop payment account.  NOT through a link given in an email.

The scammers sent you a link to a FAKE Etsy page.  If you attempted to log-in on that page, you gave the scammers your password to your Etsy account, which they will happily use to commit fraud under your name.  

Good luck and stay safe.  

[AnniebelloPaper]

Etsy has finally put a notice up on the shop dashboard. Please go to yours and read it. 

[MoviePropMakers]

In my Etsy Inbox it is exactly like if Etsy was writting to me directly: name of the user is Etsy and they have the logo displayed. One can easily get fooled!
I don't understand how Etsy let this happen!

[ThePurplePuppy]

@MoviePropMakers    And it is all fake-if you clicked on ANY links  I would run a malware scan, then change my password. Also check to see if your bank account , etc is correct. Once they get into your account they take over the entire account and you are essentially locked out.

Sales on Etsy are seamless--you will get a transaction email from Etsy and at the same time the sale will appear on your dashboard. All of the information should be identical. At that point you pack and ship--you do not "send" anyone your email or get anything from Etsy asking for your information which they already have.

[bradgoodell]

Etsy does their best to block these messages.  The scammers adjust their approach, like spelling "email" wrong to get it past the censors.  The scammers also hack established seller shops and use their messages to get past censors.  Etsy takes down accounts, blocks and deletes false messages, and the scammers just keep coming back with a new angle.

Etsy has put out an announcement, and recently put it on shop dashboards.  Hopefully that will help, but only if people bother to read the announcements and take heed.

At a certain point, it is up to shop owners to be cautious and aware.  There is no marketplace or website out there that requires a buyer to enter the seller's email, that alone should be a HUGE red flag.  Also, Etsy already has the seller's email address, plus their bank account and credit card info.  Why would they ask for it again?  2nd red flag.  Third red flag, the link.  Never click on links in emails.  That is just basic online security that people should already be aware of.  

What scammers count on is naive sellers blinded by the excitement of their first sale. Once the conversation is off Etsy, Etsy has no control of what happens.  Then it is entirely up to the seller to use basic caution to avoid being scammed.  

[MoviePropMakers]

I agree with all that. We need to be carfeul. And I'm cautious enough not to be fooled but I'm amazed that they can send a message through the Etsy messaging system using "Etsy" as a username. How can that even happen?
Anyway, the message has been removed. No harm done.

[weecoloursbookshelf]

Hi everyone, I've just opened up my store, and getting messages from people with no profile pictures and like an automated message saying the customer has had an issue when ordering. Are these real customers? I don't know how to contact Etsy as I don't see an option! 

[ZehOriginalArt]

@weecoloursbookshelf 

Be careful since scammers target new shops. If a customer has trouble ordering, they have to contact Etsy. There is nothing you can do about it as a shop owner. Do not click links in the messages, scan anything or allow any so-called transactions to be taken off Etsy.

[ModAngie]

Hello @TVations,

Etsy is actively engaged in preventing scammers from targeting our community members. If you receive a suspicious message, please proceed with caution. Etsy Support will never ask you to provide personal information via Etsy Messages, such as your email address or password. Any legitimate message from us will show in your "From Etsy" folder.

If you receive a suspicious message, here’s how to report it:

1. Sign in to Etsy.com and go to Your Account.
2. Go to Messages. 
3. Select the suspicious message from your inbox. 
4. Choose Mark as Spam.

You’ll find examples of common scammer techniques and phishing messages here in our Help Center. Read our Account Security Checklist in the Seller Handbook for more steps you can take to protect your account.

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