Possible fraud?

[EGIPTOHISTORIAVIVA]

Good night. I am an ETSY seller and have never had any problems. But for a few weeks now I've been receiving messages through ETSY from people saying they want to buy my items, but they say they can't complete the purchase if I don't provide them with my email. Once I do, they ask for my credit card. When I refuse to give it, I no longer know about them. While I have continued making sales by the traditional method without problems.
I'm scared because today I have already received 3 messages of this type and they are registered in the ETSY messages of my account. The truth is I do not understand.
Please give me an explanation.
Thank you so much.

[artbyjocelyn]

Yes, a Scam attempt. Mark as Spam immediately and delete them. Don't even reply to them at all.

[PinkBirdCottage]

Definite well known SCAM. If you take the time to read the Forums everyday you will learn a lot about these kinds of things. Glad you came here to check!

[DesertChains]

This is a scam. Don’t respond or provide any personal or financial information. Send it to spam.

Make it part of your daily routine to visit the forums. You can learn so much about ongoing concerns, problems, glitches, and scams. Stay informed!

For the full discussion about recent scams, see here: https://community.etsy.com/t5/Managing-Your-Shop/How-to-Spot-a-Scam-No-a-Buyer-Doesn-t-Need-Your-Ema...

[bohemians]

You posted just a few seconds ahead of me. :  )

[bohemians]

Etsy did a Community Forum Announcement about being aware of scammers (at the top of the main forum page) or   ... https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/Protect-Your-Account-From-Scammers/td-p/143158945

[howtobooksandmore]

They are in the Etsy messages because someone opens a buyer account and sends the messages from there.  The messages are not from Etsy and not from a potential buyer.  They are scammers who want to get your credit card number.  Just send the messages to spam.

[ZenCatPottery]

Why would u give them your email?  You should never do that.  It is against Etsy policy to do this b/c it looks like you are completing your sale off of Etsy to avoid paying Etsy.  You could get in trouble with Etsy and have your shop suspended for doing this.

If a customer is legitimately having trouble completing a purchase on Etsy it is a problem with them and their account, not you.  They would need to work it out with Etsy.  

lastly, their request for your email makes no sense.  How would giving them your email address help them in completing their purchase?  This is completely illogical.

Please think about these things when you get odd messages from supposed customers.  Ask yourself, “Does this make sense?”

Etsy has been warning against an increase in fraud attempts through their site for months now, so you should be doubly skeptical.

[irmaKdesigns]

@ZenCatPottery "Why would u give them your email?  You should never do that.  It is against Etsy policy to do this."

If it was against the rules, Etsy would block messages containing e-address. I give my email to customers for custom work. By doing so I'm not avoiding fees, because I don't offer custom work on Etsy.

With so many scams lately requesting sellers' emails, Etsy should block any in/out message with email address. Other selling platforms like eBay don't allow it and don't have these type of scams. It's a shame Etsy still allows it.

[ZenCatPottery]

@irmaKdesigns  But that’s not what this post is about.  This post is about “customers “ asking for his email b/c they supposedly can’t complete their purchase.  This could look suspicious to Etsy.

[MetroRetroVintage]

You are correct -- it is fraud.  Be sure to send each fraudulent message to SPAM so that it doesn't count against you.

[ThePurplePuppy]

The only TRUE Etsy purchase is ALWAYS done thru the "traditional" method.  Anything else is a scam!

[ThePurplePuppy]

@AngAuvergne 

Yes, you can report them if you wish. 

[ExtremeCreation]

You might be getting more of those kinds of messages because you have already given one of them your email address.  Many of them work in groups and may tell each other who they can more than likely fall for it.

Good thing you didn't let go so far.

You need to spam those messages on both Etsy messages and on your personal email address.  

[GemologistCanada]

I am also receiving messages that look like they are from Etsy saying I have a sale but they need to verify my account.  They are asking for a credit card number.  I make no sales on this app as it is and now I’m getting what seriously looks like fraud sales.  I used to do really well on Etsy as a side hustle but it’s difficult to know what’s what with the changes they have made over the last few years. 
I live shopping on Etsy but selling not so much these days.  

can someone tell me dies Etsy ask use to verify our accounts by taking us off site after telling us we have a sale waiting to be verified? 

[BagmakerSupply]

@GemologistCanada: The short answer is NO.

Real messages from Etsy are now going into their own section (labeled as "From Etsy") on your Messages page when using a browser or have a colored blurb of text on the Message, saying "From Etsy" if using the app https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497#M1899

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-Ema... and https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Why-do-they-ask-me-for-my-e-mail-in-order-to-make-a-p...

Additionally there is also a very informative thread from @StickIt2M  at https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Nefarious-activity-aimed-at-sellers-quot-The-user-nam...

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

Be sure to mark the message as SPAM so that it does not affect your stats (at last report you cannot do that using the seller app only a browser, even your mobile browser, or the buyer app).