Someone impersonating my account

[shopsumac]

Hello! Someone stole my username and shop photo on Etsy and is impersonating my account! A little backstory: I originally was called “shopsumac” and then rebranded to “Punchbuns” but I couldn’t figure out how to change my Etsy username. Then today, I find out that someone has taken that username and used my shop photo. They are also using listing photos I have posted on other platforms. They are asking people to pay them through PayPal and off-app. How do I go about this? I have been getting messages from people on social media asking to buy the items this fake shop is “selling” but they are not affiliated with me. Please help!

[PrimFun]

Is this off or on Etsy?  Are they using Punchbuns?  I admit I read three times and am not sure what is going on so what I say below may make little sense,

They cannot use the same name.  Once a name is gone it is gone.  Never to be used again.

Punchbuns has Etsy payments and is selling items that appear not to be Etsy legal.  

Your user name is Punchbuns but that is not a shop name as you can see there is a shop by that name.  Usernames are not  protected.  They can be anything.  Help has information on how to change things.

If they are using your photos then issue a DMCA for takedown.

I suggest you contact Etsy to discuss the matter, 

[shopsumac]

I’m sorry, I was confused with the proper terms to use. My shop name was taken by them, I could not figure out how to change mine before they took it. I sell on multiple platforms that are all the same name, but they stole photos from my listings on those other platforms and are pretending to be my account.

[NanaLetha]

You can't change your username. Your username is unique and assigned by Etsy. You can change your public name and your shop name only.

[shopsumac]

I see, I meant shop name was taken by them. I wasn’t able to figure out how to change my shop name before they took it.

[NanaLetha]

Punchbuns is your public name - not your username or shop name.

[shopsumac]

Oh, I meant they stole my shop name before I could change it and they are using my shop photo as well. On all platforms, I am @punchbuns. they took the shop name @punchbuns before I could update it here.

[nineteen27]

yes you have punchbuns all over the place.

except where it matters.

you never changed your shop name.

so someone else was able to take it.

if he is stealing your photos.

you can report him here.

https://www.etsy.com/ipreporting

[shopsumac]

Thank you, I will be sure to make a report. I’m terribly stressed as I am worries he will scam people using my profile photo and the shop name that I use across multiple platforms: eBay, Mercari, Instagram, Depop, etc. I hope no one gets scammed by them (pretending to be me)!

[NanaLetha]

They did not steal it. They changed their shop name before you did. That's all - perfectly OK for them to do that. You are now using their shop name in your shop. You need to remove any reference to that name in your shop. 

[shopsumac]

I am confused. They took my profile photo and listing photos that I have up on other platforms. They are asking people to pay through PayPal and off app. Is that allowed?

[JackisJustVintage]

@shopsumac  No, they cannot do that if it is on Etsy. If so, make the report.

[NanaLetha]

Report the shop for asking buyers to pay off Etsy.

[shopsumac]

Okay, just submitted the report. Hope Etsy reviews it soon. Thank you for your help.

[TheatricksFineGarb]

You had since 2019 to change your Etsy shop name, or open a new shop with the name PunchBuns. Too late now. If your avatar/photos are your original creations, and were stolen, by all means report that , as @nineteen27 suggested. 
As a side note, the shop name BunchPuns is available….

[shopsumac]

You’re right, I should have tried harder to change my shop name here. Yes, the avatar and listing photos are my original creations, all are visible on the platforms that I primarily sell on. Report has been submitted.

[nineteen27]

@shopsumac 

@TheatricksFineGarb  loves puns.

do not listen to him... lol

[CraftyCornishMaids]

no-one can use another shop name, or re-use it, once it's been used.

If they have a shop called Punchbuns, even if they close, or etsy closes them, the name can never be re-used here,

so whatever happens to the other shop, you cannot use THEIR shop name in your shop.

Remove Punchbuns from everywhere in your shop, it is not your shop name, it is theirs.

....

If they have stolen your photos, you can report them to etsy with a DCMA takedown notice.

They can report you, for using their name - so remove it all first

[shopsumac]

Okay, I will remove that name from this shop. Hopefully it is non-usable here in the future. I primarily sell on other platforms, which is why I did not make enough effort to change it here. Thank you for your insight!

[PillowDetails]

Other than using your avatar as their shop photo - there's IP infringement.  And yes, they are directing Buyers to pay off Etsy on PayPal. 

[shopsumac]

Just submitted the IP infringement report, and a directing buyers to buy through a PayPal donation report. I am the original creator of the avatar photo they took and the listing photos they are using are all ones that I took (I primarily sell on other platforms so they took all my information from there). I should have realized people could potentially impersonate me (I sell as @punchbuns on eBay/Mercari/Depop/Instagram/Poshmark). Do you also recommend that I remove any punch buns affiliation from my account here, as I have been directed by others to do so since the other user has taken that as their shop name (even though they are pretending to be me)?

[nineteen27]

the mods will probably remove this thread.

for calling out another shop.

so learn from every response.

before the thread disappears.

[shopsumac]

Thank you for the heads up, taking photos of responses now for future reference. You have been so helpful, I can’t express how much I appreciate you - and everyone else too! I was a crying mess. Thank you!

[TheHomespunLoft]

@shopsumac 

Personally I would choose another name on all your accounts and get the new .com for that name too to make it harder to take. These people have tainted the PB ( not to call out the other shop)  name IMO..especially since you say people on social media have contacted you about them and wanting to buy. I realize you likely love the name but I would think of another and make it as legal as you can all over. Protect it. This one was never yours here.

Right now as said-- they can report you for taking their name. So remove That name all over..( Your about page etc)

Good luck

[shopsumac]

Just removed that name from anywhere on this account. Hopefully Etsy takes their shop down for only accepting payments as donations through PayPal, and that that username is unusable on Etsy again.