Possible scam

[GreenTulipGifts]

After I sold a new item to an acquaintance through my shop, I received, in rapid succession, messages from two different customers saying they had tried to purchase the same new item and ran into payment issues. They were asked to provide my email address before proceeding. This is a scam right? As cute as my new item is, I don't think people are going to buy it that quickly. Plus it just sounds weird. 

[ChillwolfArt · Accepted solution]

SCAM!  You will not be asked to provide your email before payment.  Etsy has it. These scammers are coming in droves and I'm sorry you were hit with it.

[ChristmasIsLove · Accepted solution]

DEFINITE SCAM.

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

[GreenTulipGifts]

OMG Thanks

[GreenTulipGifts]

I feel stupid for even asking about this because it's clearly a scam.

[ChillwolfArt]

@GreenTulipGifts  Never feel stupid.  These idiots are getting better at it.  A lot of Sellers are being hit.

[ChristmasIsLove]

@GreenTulipGifts No reason to feel stupid. Some sellers have actually fallen for it, unfortunately. It's good you were suspicious.

[BagmakerSupply]

@GreenTulipGifts: There are quite a few recent posts in this forum  about this scam. @bradgoodell has a nice list of red flags to watch for on https://community.etsy.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Strange-Emails-from-the-USA-for-some-Orders-and-Payme...

[bradgoodell]

They seem to be targeting new listings lately.  And there have been some very knowledgable long-term sellers finding themselves going down the rabbit hole.  The new scams are getting more sophisticated.

Online scams are running rampant right now.  I’ve put clues to the latest scam on top.  This list also contains clues to other common online scams.  Hopefully it will help you and other sellers.  Once you hit more than 2 red flags, shut down the conversation.  

1. New seller
2. High dollar item or large sale amount
3. Odd or awkward-sounding language
4. They want to take the conversation off Etsy (they ask for your email)
5. Someone messages you and claims you may have been a victim of fraud, and requests your email address to "resolve the issue"
6. You get a (FAKE) message from Etsy Support telling you that they are having technical issues and asking if you've received notification of an order in the last few minutes.  
7. You get a (FAKE) Live Chat message.  
8. You get a phone call from someone claiming to be Etsy.  Etsy doesn’t cold-call sellers.
9. “Etsy Support” claims they want to contact you by text/SMS.  Etsy doesn’t text, they use Etsy messages and/or email.
10. Anyone claiming to be from Etsy who asks for your phone number or login information is a scam. 
11. You get an email requesting you "complete" the order as its currently on hold and asks you for your debit card information.
12. You get an email from (FAKE) Etsy saying Etsy is changing payment methods and will send money directly to your credit or debit card. Etsy has not changed their payment method.
13. You go back to their account, and it's gone
14. The original message has disappeared off Etsy, or has moved itself to your Spam folder.
15. They send you a link of some sort.  DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK
16. They claim they cannot check-out and need your email to complete the order.
17. They claim your Etsy checkout isn't working, and they send you a link to "fix it” 
18. You get an email from (FAKE) Etsy saying you need to do X to get your account verified.  
19. You get a (FAKE) email from Etsy claim you need to buy a high dollar pre-paid Visa or American Express card to get your Etsy account working
20.  They send you a link to a (FAKE) Etsy page that looks genuine and asks for your login and/or credit card details.
21. You find a (FAKE) Etsy phone number off the net and talk to a sympathetic customer service rep that wants you to download an app so they can access your account to fix something.  Etsy does not have a published phone number you can call.  It's a scam, the number is not Etsy's.
22. They want to take the sale off Etsy
23. They ask if something is "still available" when it's obviously for sale in your shop
24. They ask about the condition of an obviously new item
25. They ask if you are honest
26. There is some urgency, such as a birthday or anniversary
27. They claim they are in the Navy, an oceanographer, on a cruise ship, on a research vessel in Antartica
28. They ask you to buy a high dollar gift card and include it in the order
29. They will pay you extra for the inconvenience
30. They claim to have their own shipping company or pick-up agent
31. They claim an uncle is paying
32. They want to pay by money order or Cashier's check
33. They send you payment for far more than the order total
34. They want you to send the overage through Western Union, Venmo, etc.
35. They send you a (fake) PayPal email that says PayPal will release the payment after you send them the overage.

[ThePurplePuppy]

I almost feel left out because I HAVEN'T gotten this one yet! Even a lot of the forum "regulars" have received this!

And don't feel stupid for asking--These people are getting real slick with these scams, even offering up fake Etsy sites that look real!

[sweetserendipityvint]

If sellers receive this message - what is the best way to report it to Etsy?  I am in an Etsy facebook group and multiple people post about this one everyday - I image the best way to stop it is to report it to Etsy but contacting Etsy to make sure they actually see it seems a bit difficult lately - so any advice we can pass on in that group?

[UppNorthEh]

etsy is very well this is going on as evidenced by their presence here in the forums.  

[VidaDeco]

Same thing happened to me. But I DID give them my email. I have been sent an email message apparently from ETSY with a suspicious link. 

I wonder if there is a way to block or report these members?