Strange requests to verify bank details

[StyleFrancaise]

Yesterday I set up a seller account and installed the Etsy seller app. I am in France.

Soon after, I received a message on the app saying I needed to verify my bank details, along with a link to follow. That link took me to an Etsy website and a verification process, along with an advisor chat box. The process included me verifying a payment on my own banking app, although no money was taken.

I followed the process but was told my bank was not available. I then received a message saying I should open an account with Revolut, or another online bank, to acheive verification. I questioned this and was told that if I didn't my account would be permanently locked. 

I was asked to follow this process 3 times, before I gave up. I have four emails showing messages from Etsy Support, but only one of these shows up in the app. 

Was any of this legitimate? Does Etsy verify a new seller's bank account like this, or was this an elaborate scam?

[CraftyCornishMaids · Accepted solution]

This is a scam.

Etsy says do NOT click on links.

that was NOT an etsy website, it was a scam website

this is what etsy puts under every message

To stay protected, stay on Etsy. Never follow links to other sites, and don’t share contact, account, or financial info with anyone in Messages. Learn how to spot spam.

[Amaradorn · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry it's a scam. Please contact your bank immediately and get your card cancelled if you have them any details.

Genuine messages from Etsy will appear in the 'From Etsy' folder on the message page, however Etsy rarely use the message system. Any important communications from Etsy will be sent directly to your email address (not via messages). Now the scammers have your email address (I assume) you should also be wary of fake emails.

[CryzalisMasksUK · Accepted solution]

Also if you did open an account with Revolut, contact Revolut immediately via the live chat in your app and report the username

[VintageRescueSquad · Accepted solution]

If and when etsy needs to verify ANY information, it will either be on your dashboard or in the "from etsy" section of your inbox. Scammers target new shops hoping you don't understand how etsy works and will divulge your financial information. Stay alert

[StyleFrancaise]

Thank you all for confirming and clarifying my suspicions.

[ModKenneth · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Etsy is actively engaged in preventing scammers from targeting our community members. If you receive a suspicious message, please proceed with caution. Etsy Support will never ask you to provide personal information via Etsy Messages, such as your email address or password. Any legitimate message from us will show in your "From Etsy" folder.

If you receive a suspicious message, here’s how to report it:

1. Sign in to Etsy.com and go to Your Account.
2. Go to Messages. 
3. Select the suspicious message from your inbox. 
4. Choose Mark as Spam.

You’ll find examples of common scammer techniques and phishing messages here in our Help Center. Read our Account Security Checklist in the Seller Handbook for more steps you can take to protect your account.

[StyleFrancaise]

Just to update everyone, I have cancelled the cards and have lost no money! Thank you all so much for helping a new and somewhat ignorant Etsy seller!

[ButterflyFeetDigital]

Scammers tend to target new shops.
Things to read:

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

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

https://community.etsy.com/t5/Announcements/New-From-Etsy-section-in-Messages/m-p/143722497#M1899

https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Handle-Spam-and-Suspicious-Messages

If you receive an actual order, you will see it in your "Orders and Shipping" section and you will receive an email from Etsy notifying you that you have a sale, and there will be a notification in your dashboard as well.

[FanilaArt]

I made my account today and got an email like this that someone bought my product and I need to verify my bank account, they took 450 Euro from my bank and then stop replying me on the chat unfortunately my bank said they can not return back the money! so the first day I opened my account here!

[CraftyCornishMaids]

@FanilaArt 

etsy verifies bank accounts, by DEPOSITING money to your bank, giving anyone bank account numbers is not a problem, we do it all the time for online banking and transfers
Paying in, does not require an authorisation code from the recipient

What is a problem, is giving them your CARD number, then giving them an authorisation code authorising them to take money from your CARD.
If that card is a debit card, linked to your bank account, then the card provider automatically takes it from that bank

etsy puts this under every message

To stay protected, stay on Etsy. Never follow links to other sites, and don’t share contact, account, or financial info with anyone in Messages. Learn how to spot spam.

It's a hard lesson to learn, but scammers are everywhere, we need to be alert.

If it was a UK bank, we would have protection, I would push your bank a bit harder.

[Redvoli]

I had the same exact thing happen to me today, I listed my first ever product and nearly got fked by these scammers, but what’s the weirdest thing is that it said my product was sold even in the ETSY sellers app, but soon after it randomly got delisted and the “revenue” I made from that product was gone, super sketchy