I am a New Store...Why am I getting gmail ETSY messages but they don't appear in my ETSY store.

[LuckyPennyBride]

PLEASE HELP...NEW STORE and I have 2 Questions:

• I am a New Store...Why am I getting gmail ETSY messages but they don't appear in my ETSY store.
• I also have gmail messages from customers stating they have tried to purchase but there is no record on the ETSY store.

[ChantillyAvenue · Accepted solution]

@LuckyPennyBride 

Most likely, you're being targeted by scammers.  Is your shop new?  This happens A LOT with new shops.  Ignore or spam them.  Etsy will contact you here, and it will be in the "from Etsy" folder.  Not that they don't email, but they'll contact you here if there's a problem with an order.

[LuckyPennyBride]

Yes, the shop is very new. So I can assume that if the message is not in ETSY store than it is a SCAMMER.

[ChantillyAvenue]

Most likely, yes.

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Protect-Yourself-from-Phishing-Scams?seg...

It took me a minute to find that.

[ChillwolfArt]

Hi, Welcome to Etsy.  I'm sorry you have been hit by scammers. They tend to target new Sellers, often appearing within seconds after someone lists an item/s.  It makes me sick to see this happen to people; I have been seeing an increase of new Sellers coming to the Forum for a while now; being bombarded with Messages from scammers. You don't expect to start fresh on a site, and immediately get hit with this garbage. And as a new Seller, I can see where you could be caught by it; it could happen to anyone.

Many scammers are posing as "Buyers", stating they need your email for an Order. They don't, Etsy already has it. They are trying to get you to input your banking info, so they can steal from you. When you receive a LEGIT Order, it will appear in "Orders" (Left Column of Shop Dashboard); it will also show in your Payment Account. if it isn't there, you have no Order.  Mark the scammer's Message as Spam (so you don't get dinged for S Seller).  And never click on links or engage with them.

"Verification" is a popular scam, as well as posing as Etsy Staff/Support, etc.   Scanning of QR Codes is another. When you receive a LEGIT Message from Etsy Support/Staff, etc., it will appear in the "From Etsy" Folder (in Messages). If it isn't there, Mark the Message as Spam (so you don't get dinged for S Seller). Messages which pose as Etsy Support (or Staff), should be easy to ferret out; bots should be able to pick up on those, and yet they are still coming through.

Re: Marking a Message as Spam. For the first time, I recently had cause to do this. However, I saw nothing by Messages which said "Mark as Spam". I had no idea where to send the bloody Message. Finally I saw "Report", and clicked it after selecting the Message (and yes, it should say, "Report as Spam" or "Mark as Spam" (or how about "Spam" if character space is an issue).  

Here is the Help Article re: Scams.
https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Handle-Scams-and-Suspicious-Messages?seg...

Hope this is helpful to you, and may this garbage cease for you and for others. Best Wishes to you.

[ChantillyAvenue]

@LuckyPennyBride   ^^THIS^^.  Much more detailed and expanded.  I just wanted to say something quickly to get you out of panic mode, and hopefully keep you from responding to whoever is trying to scam you.

[Amaradorn]

Any email or message could be a scam. It's important to learn how to spot a scam. In fact I tend to assume everything is a scam first and then work backwards to determine if it's a genuine communication.

Locate the 'from Etsy' folder on your messages page - Genuine messages from Etsy will appear in that folder.

Anyone can message you on Etsy (including scammers). Anyone can send you a phishing email if they have your email address. 

Don't click on links in messages or emails. Don't share your payment card or bank details with anyone even if it looks like Etsy - only enter your details on the official Etsy website in your shop manager.

[ButterflyFeetDigital]

I don't know how they got your email, but here are some more 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

If you receive an actual order, you will see it in your "Orders and Shipping" section and you will receive an email from Etsy notifying you that you have a sale, and there will be a notification in your dashboard as well.

[ModKenneth · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Etsy is actively engaged in preventing scammers from targeting our community members. If you receive a suspicious message, please proceed with caution, and do not click on any suspicious email links. 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 Report.

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.