Purchases showing up in my account that I didn't order

[#1]

This is a new one for me. Last night, purchases made by someone else have shown up in my account. I only became aware when I started receiving requests for reviews. These items were not on my purchase list before yesterday. I do happen to know the person who made the orders but they are not connected to my account in any way and I didn't place the orders or pay for them. I don't think she even knows I have an etsy account. I'm the only one with access to my account. She ordered the items and loved them so much she forwarded the "It's here" email to my husbands email-she's a client of his. Then the fun began! Suddenly, I'm being asked to review them and they showed up on my purchases list!

[Saved4Later]

No. I wasn't charged.

[Former_Member]

I've got to follow this one, it's just too intriguing!

[Saved4Later · Accepted solution]

I think this solves the mystery. I googled after reading comments, haven't heard back from Etsy yet. This is apparently how to link a guest order (didn't know this was possible) The important thing here is step #5. I did not claim the order, it automatically linked it. Unless of course, step 5 refers to just signing into your account and not actually confirming by clicking yes or no or something to that effect. I agree this makes it simple if your intent was to link.  Some people may think this is an awesome easy way to go, but if your not in the know and not trying link, it's mysterious and disconcerting.

Thank you all for chiming in, I was really worried my account was compromised! I'll check back if I ever hear back from the powers that be!

How to Connect a Guest Order to an Etsy Account

1. Open your email inbox.
2. Locate the email receipt you received when you placed your order. ...
3. Select View your order.
4. Follow the steps to sign in or create an account on Etsy.com. ...
5. Once you've claimed your order, you can choose that order and contact the seller for help.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015565027-How-to-Claim-an-Order-You-Purchased-as-a-Guest?...

The complete wording for step 4, though, says this:

4. Follow the steps to sign in or create an account on Etsy.com. The account you link your guest order to must have the same email address that you used for your guest order. Your order is automatically connected to your Etsy account.

Then the help page says:

I see an error saying that I don’t have permission to access this page

You may be signed in with the incorrect email. Sign out of Etsy on all browsers and devices, then try signing in to the account related to your order.

And the help page also says:

Nothing happens when I select the link in the email

Make sure you select the link in the order notification email. You won't find a link to connect your order to an Etsy account in other emails you may receive from us, like shipping updates and new message notifications.

So I am still not sure why you were able to click on the link in the "it's here" email, and be linked- it shouldn't work that way, from what I am reading on the help page. Something is off somewhere...

 

[Saved4Later]

So I am still not sure why you were able to click on the link in the "it's here" email, and be linked- it shouldn't work that way, from what I am reading on the help page. Something is off somewhere...

Exactly! I would have expected an error message. My account email is NOT included in the original buyer email nor is it the one to which it was forwarded to and the link clicked on.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what Etsy has to say about it!

[EnergyPeace]

@TimeSpanTreasures exactly. it doesn't make any sense at all. 

[BagmakerSupply]

Undoubtedly every link in an eMail from Etsy has some sort of tracking embedded in it and clicking on the link while logged in probably triggered a connection between the transaction and the logged in account on Etsy's side.

[Adorabilities]

I agree that you should be made fully aware and need to agree to linking the purchase with an account. 

Is the buyer's payment information available to you now, since Etsy thinks that's one account? 

[Saved4Later · Accepted solution]

More frustration! Etsy's response so far has been to apologize for being charged for this order clearly misunderstanding the issue. (insert rolling eyes emoji). I wasn't charged, my financial info wasn't involved but the linking also added the buyers address to my account! I deleted it and changed my password.

I looked at the html code behind the link in the email (it's very long); it appears as a big black rectangular button that says View Order. This is the beginning of the link code : https://www.etsy.com/your/purchases/claim?. 

Anyway, I think there should be more steps involved to link an account but I get it makes life easy for those that are trying. I had absolutely no idea that linking would occur and view this as deceptive because there was no warning. The email addresses involved (buyer and forwarded) were not my account email and not ever associated with my account. So at this point I just want them to remove the purchases. 

Thanks everyone for helping me sort through this mystery. Lesson re-learned: Seriously, NEVER click a link in your email even if you know the sender.

[TimeSpanTreasures]

I wonder what would happen if the buyer were to try and set up an account, using the link in the purchase order email?

(assuming she still has the original email and hasn't deleted it)

[Saved4Later · Accepted solution]

A final update…Etsy finally removed the purchases from my account and acknowledged a glitch:

“Indeed, it seems that these orders were connected to your account as part of a technical bug - this is indeed something we have seen before, and our engineers are working to stop this from happening in future with other accounts.
 I any case, I want to assure you that this does not mean that your account was compromised in any way, or that someone else had access to your account.
It simply means that due to an internal Etsy bug, the orders were linked to the wrong account. “

[TimeSpanTreasures]

Thanks for the update, @Saved4Later . Good to hear that Etsy finally understood and removed the purchases from your account.

It's a bit worrisome, though,  that this "internal Etsy bug" existed (hopefully now in the past tense) in the first place.

[ChillwolfArt]

@Saved4Later   I'm glad this is finally resolved for you.

*Quick though, Delete the verbatim quote from Etsy (they will most likely come along and delete it from your post; we're not supposed to quote Messages, Emails, etc. from them.  Although we can tell the basics of what went down without quoting them.

I agree with TimeSpanTreasures.  Concern over the "internal Etsy bug" existing in the first place.

And you're right re: never clicking links within emails or Messages for that matter.  In emails from Etsy, this includes the Tabs to "see more" or "learn more", or items "You may be interested in". 
I never click; frankly they should know better and not include Tabs or photos to click on.  What with the amount of Hacked Shops coming for help in the Forum, and Threads being closed or posts deleted from those still having trouble and/or those who are trying to help them.  You don't need to encourage people to click into links, tabs, photos, etc. within emails. Ever.

[PrincessAveriesTutus]

Hello I know this thread is a few month older, but I had a similar but not the same thing happen to me.
Someone made a purchase from my one shop to my other shop using a credit card not mine, linked to my one shops email, but the shipping address is in the USA and I’m in Canada and do not know the buyer at all.

 I did not make this purchase, but it’s linked to me.
I never received an email or receipt for my order saying “I” made the purchase, until I shipped the order. Now it’s asking me to review the purchase of my own handmade product🤦‍

All contacts though now for the order to the customer are going to me from my one shop to my other shop.🤷🏼‍

Etsy is working on this for me, but it’s so weird! I even got the money in my account for the order, but have not my credit card that made the purchase. 
It is seriously the strangest thing the 14yrs of having a Etsy shop.

Scammers are so terrible and I’m really worried about my identity etc being stolen.