I am getting a sketchy message on my first order and need you help

[#1]

Newbie here,

Someone contacted me saying that they want to place an order, but "etsy asked for your email address". I sent them my address, the say that they placed an order but it’s not showing in ‘my orders’, not in the etsy app.

Immediately after this conversation I get a pop up on my browser from a person stated as "Technical Support Sofia" who says, and I quote:

"Good day. Since this is the first time you are using our payment system, you must verify the account to which payments for goods sold will subsequently be received. This is a standard procedure to verify the account holder. This is to confirm that you can use the online payment system and to protect buyers and sellers from fraudsters."

and then adds:

"We ask for your card details and balance to ensure the security of the transaction. Nowadays there are many fraudsters who use copies of real bank cards to steal money from buyers and sellers of goods online. Therefore, we ask you to provide these details for your own safety.

for"

they continued with a few more "sketchy" messages...

This is only my first order and it does not show in ‘my shop’, nor has it been paid straight into my bank acc. 
My question is  Is it normal for Etsy to ask for your bank card details?

Is this potentially a spam message

I really appreciate any feedback. 

Thanks in advance

Eleni

[mellonmeligr]

I know ...

I acted like a complete ignorant.

I feel such a fool...

[PristinityJewelry]

@mellonmeligr 

Nope.

[ZehOriginalArt]

@mellonmeligr 

You are not a fool - you came here to check and that was wise.

You are far from the only new seller that this has happened to. It has been going on for months which means many are likely falling for it or the scammers would not continue.

[nineteen27]

@mellonmeligr 

i was not trying to make you feel that way at all.

since you cannot go back and change what happened.

you can only move forward and learn how not to have it happen again.

and to understand as many red flags as possible.

which is what i was trying to help you with.

and keep ALL conversations on etsy...

do not call... email...text... with anyone about anything.

there is never a reason to take an etsy conversation off of etsy.

[PristinityJewelry]

@ZehOriginalArt  @mellonmeligr 

There is always the occasional scammer, not just on Etsy but most anywhere, in many ways online. 

But in the last couple months, there seems to be a concerted/organized effort targeting Etsy sellers, particularly newer ones.

Its been like a blitzkrieg.

[bradgoodell]

@mellonmeligr You are not a fool, you used your brain and stopped before it went too far.

Sadly, many have not and have lost hundreds, and even thousands of dollars.  

[bradgoodell]

@nineteen27 Yes, keep all messages on Etsy.  No emails, texts, SMS, WhatsApp, phone calls.  Also, do not click on links, no matter how safe or benign they may seem.

@PristinityJewelry  Blitzkrieg, that is the perfect word for what has been happening on Etsy since May or June.  Kudos.  

[ChillwolfArt]

@mellonmeligr  Don't feel like a fool.  These goons are targeting new Sellers as well as seasoned ones.  A long time Seller reported she received multiple bogus "Messages" in a week.  I have been here since 2011.  And have never seen it so bad; it's like dodging bullets. So don't feel bad at all; you came here to inquire about it.

[SimplyInvitingLLC]

How did the pop up happen? Did you click a link in the email that took you to the "etsy" website? if so, it wasn't the real etsy site. But either way I would definitely run any anti-virus software on your computer just in case.

[mellonmeligr]

No I didn't click any mail but I don't know how the pop up  happened. I will certainly run a virus check right away. Thanks for the feedback!

[FeltOnTheFly]

In addition to all the good advice you’ve gotten about this sketchy scam, be sure to visit the forums often to stay up to date on all the things. 
With a simple scroll through the topics, you’ll see lots of things worth reading up on.   

[GemmaLaureJoaillerie]

I have got exactly the same messages 2-3 times a week since 2 months, it is SPAM only.

Anne-Laure (France)

[Former_Member]

New seller, 

I just had a similar incident.  2 people stayed they purchased and needed my email address to complete the order.  

Is that true? Or was it a scam?

[BagmakerSupply]

@Former_Member: It is a SCAM - you might want to read the excellent post by @bradgoodell  in https://community.etsy.com/t5/Managing-Your-Shop/How-to-Spot-a-Scam-No-a-Buyer-Doesn-t-Need-Your-Email-Address/td-p/142754172 and https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Why-do-they-ask-me-for-my-e-mail-in-order-to-make-a-payment/m-p/142921442#M789846

There is also official information from Etsy at https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Handle-Spam-and-Suspicious-Messages?segment=selling

Real messages from Etsy are now going into their own section on your messages page https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497#M1899

If you have not already done so, you may want to read https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015710308-What-to-Do-After-You-Sell-an-Item?segment=selling for an overview how orders work for sellers.

Be sure to mark the message as SPAM so that it does not affect your stats.

[OmasFabricStash]

My advice is to pretend the email is a real person you meet on the street. Would you give that stranger the information that the email wants you to give them? Behind the email are people that you know nothing about.
But it said it was from Etsy. Then go to Etsy, or Amazon or eBay, and ask them if they need to have that information. So many people wouldn’t give out any information to someone on the phone, someone at their door, or a letter they got in the mail. Yet too many trust an email. 

[LadyAllensCorner]

I just signed up last week.  I received that same scam email.  Unfortunately I put in card information and even signup for Revolut as they requested.  I am so ready to suspend my Etsy account all together.  I hate to give up so soon.

[ColakFineart]

Hello everyone.
Like mellonmeligr, I also got the same message on my first listing.
I didn't click on the links because I have some experience in these matters.
but it makes you happy

Greetings

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