Scammer Fiesta - This is just crazy!

[ArtAngelDE]

Hello everyone, 

I started reading the forum almost every morning BEFORE opening my shop on here (you know, I like to be informed about the platform potentially hosting my work) and I got all the information needed to tell whether messages and orders are real of just coming from scammers (thank you forum!).

I decided to go for it so I opened my shop and set it up just a couple of days ago and oooh boy!!! did I get bombarded with scam messages claming they are from Etsy Support, that my shop is suspended, and that they need my e-mail address in order to set it back up again.

I literally got 7 messages from 7 different accounts claming they are from 'Etsy Support', all within a few hours, as I was listing new items to my shop.

Some of these messages were believable, some were funny but as an unexperienced seller on a new platform, it is not that hard to fall for them.. unfortunately.

!! I really hope that new sellers think twice before clicking on any link or giving out their e-mail addresses !!

I mean, had I not been reading the forum, I would have 100% fallen for one of those sneaky scammers!!!

[CryzalisDesigns]

I am pleased to hear that the forum did make a difference in your situation and hope that it has prevented others from being scammed.

Best of luck with your new shop eventually you will receive messages from real customers.

[ArtAngelDE]

Thank you! I recommended your shop to my cosplay fan friend a while ago, glad you commented on my post!

[CryzalisDesigns]

You are very welcome and thank you!

[OmasFabricStash]

I wish there was some way to make new shops aware of the forums. By the time some of them come to the forums for advice it’s too late. 
Their shop has been closed for infringement, Etsy did a full refund and the customer kept the item because the shop didn’t have the correct policies, they fell for the scam and wants to know how to get the money back from Etsy, and all the advice they could get on how to make their shop better. 

Weird, when I posted this my phone gave a little ding, and a message came up for a few seconds and all I read was “signed up for”. Anyone know what that was all about?

[vintageNCtreasures]

More info on the help pages and these forums:

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/Protect-Your-Account-From-Scammers/m-p/143158945#M1882

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497

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

[DivineCrossings]

@ArtAngelDE @Smart girl! I’ve found the forums to be an unmatched resource for information and the sellers who give advice here are knowledgeable and willing to impart that knowledge to others…no small sacrifice of time and energy. I’ve been here 7 years and am still learning from them. As for the scammers, they are legion. So many new sellers have been victimized. Preying on a new seller’s naïveté and excitement to make a new sale is disgusting and I don’t know how these “people” sleep at night. I wish Etsy could (would?) do more to stop them.