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

[mellonmeligr]

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

[ChillwolfArt · Accepted solution]

SCAM! A Buyer will NOT need your email to check out.  Mark as Spam! Don't even answer them.

ETA:  Please see the Announcement Etsy has at the top of the Forum re: Scams.  For a short time, they had a link to it in our Dashboards.  Then did away with it.  

I'm really sorry you were hit with this garbage.  I'm sick of these idiots.

Edited for typo in first sentence.  Thank You @TheVintagePineapple !

[mellonmeligr]

Thanks for your reply!!!!

[TheVintagePineapple]

@ChillwolfArt Edit and add the word you omitted - 'will not need'.

[SPStavros]

Thanks so much for posting this. I had thought I finally received another order. Its heartbreaking that these monsters are trying to scam newcomers

[hopeandjoystudios]

SCAM, Don't click anything and disengage and spam any more messages. I hope you didn't provide any details as they are the fraudsters and scammers wanting your money.

[hopeandjoystudios · Accepted solution]

The "technical support" is FAKE and it is the scammers... not Etsy.

[BeautifulDivine]

Sí, es una estafa. 

[KnotChaCha]

Definitely a scam. Read more here:

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

[mellonmeligr]

Thanks for your reply!!!!

[mellonmeligr]

Thanks for your reply!!!! 

[OwlAlwaysKnit]

And others scams to watch out for

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

[mellonmeligr]

Thank you so mush!

[PristinityJewelry]

"...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:..."

Scam.  But this is the first I've heard of a seller getting an actual pop-up appear in their browser.  Definitely report that fact to Etsy.

[mellonmeligr]

Thanks for the feedback!!!!

[EnergyPeace]

I wonder if it is because you gave them their email that a pop up could happen? Scary how these scammers use so many different ways. Always targeting new sellers, I guess it may work better on them. 

I hope you didn't give them any bank information!

[mellonmeligr]

Yes probably that's why I got the pop-up.

No thankfully I didn't give bank info!!! 

Run straight to you guys for help!!!

[mellonmeligr]

Thanks for all the immediate feedback guys.

It is so helpful and kind of you all.

This is a great community

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

I'm going to expand a little on @NickiesNest post.

Etsy has been lax at late in sending emails when a sale is made.  In this shop, I probably average getting 2 emails to 5 sales.  In other words, Etsy does not always send an email.

But the order will show up as a yellow one on the top of your page and also in the dashboard.

It will appear like magic and you don't have to do a darned thing - it just pops out from nowhere and with absolutely no help from you or the scammers.

[NickiesNest]

Very true.  And there is often a lag between when the order pops up on the dashboard and the email arriving.  Sellers should check their dashboard for orders at least daily and not rely on email notification.

[mellonmeligr]

Please can I ask on more thing?

I get and email with the subject "Etsy - Order #86222855" coming for an icloud email address .

I guess this also is NOT a legit etsy address.

I think I am in trouble....

[ChillwolfArt]

NOPE, SCAM!  Don't click.

[PristinityJewelry]

If there is no order showing in your Etsy Dashboard, then there is no order.

I don't think you're in trouble, but these scammers do tend to target new sellers.  The thought being they may be more "unaware".

Have these messages been coming straight to your private email address, or via Etsy's convo system?

[NickiesNest]

Any legitimate order will show up on your seller dashboard orders section.  You will also get an email from Etsy advising of a sale.  But if that sale is not on your Etsy seller page--the email is a fake.

All orders can and should be processed entirely through the order screen accessed from your dashboard.  Any request from the buyer to change it (such as the shipping address), or for additional information should be refused.  Any communication through another channel, like a separate email, should be ignored.

[nineteen27]

since you gave the first scammer your email address.

you will now receive lots of scam emails.

do not open them... do not click anything.

just delete them and report them for phishing if you know how.

and only pay attention to the sales you can see in your shop.

right now you have zero sales.

so nobody should be contacting you about an order.