Suspicious Message Regarding Card Verification – Request for Confirmation

[WellVory]

Hello,

I am reaching out to report a suspicious message I received that appears to be related to Etsy’s payment services.

The message claims that a minimum available balance of 500 USD is required on my card in order to proceed with verification for Etsy payments. It also states that no funds will be withdrawn and that this is a security measure.

This request seems unusual and potentially fraudulent. I would like to confirm whether this communication is genuinely from Etsy, or if it is a phishing attempt.

Please let me know if you need a screenshot or further details to investigate.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Best regards,
Mehdi BOUSLILA

[NanaLetha]

SCAM! Report as spam and do not reply.

[UniqueGiftOrnaments]

It is a scam. Put the message into spam.

[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 Report.

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.

[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.

[HazelsSewingSupplies]

Think about it.  You aren't buying anything - why do you have to have money in your account (especially a specific amount)?

You don't.  The buyer is the one that needs to have the money.

PS:  Not in any way connected to Etsy's payment service.

Don't click on links and don't give out any financial information!  Even Etsy doesn't require you to have money.

[TrinketDrawersUK]

Genuine messages from Etsy only appear in the "From Etsy" folder on your messages page. 

[CutshallCuttings]

I have the same problem and question. Any update on the legitimacy of this is appreciated 

[ChillwolfArt]

@CutshallCuttings 

Hi, I'm sorry, it seems like you have been hit by scammers. They tend to target new Sellers, often appearing within seconds after someone lists an item/s.  It makes me sick to see this happen to people; I have been seeing an increase of new Sellers coming to the Forum for a while now; being bombarded with Messages from scammers. You don't expect to start fresh on a site, and immediately get hit with this garbage. And as a new Seller, I can see where you could be caught by it; it could happen to anyone.

Many scammers are posing as "Buyers", stating they need your email for an Order. They don't, Etsy already has it. They are trying to get you to input your banking info, so they can steal from you. When you receive a LEGIT Order, it will appear in "Orders" (Left Column of Shop Dashboard); it will also show in your Payment Account. if it isn't there, you have no Order.  Mark the scammer's Message as Spam (so you don't get dinged for S Seller).  And never click on links or engage with them.

"Verification" is a popular scam, as well as posing as Etsy Staff/Support, etc.   Scanning of QR Codes is another. When you receive a LEGIT Message from Etsy Support/Staff, etc., it will appear in the "From Etsy" Folder (in Messages). If it isn't there, Mark the Message as Spam (so you don't get dinged for S Seller). Messages which pose as Etsy Support (or Staff), should be easy to ferret out; bots should be able to pick up on those, and yet they are still coming through.

Re: Marking a Message as Spam. For the first time, I recently had cause to do this. However, I saw nothing by Messages which said "Mark as Spam". I had no idea where to send the bloody Message. Finally I saw "Report", and clicked it after selecting the Message (and yes, it should say, "Report as Spam" or "Mark as Spam" (or how about "Spam" if character space is an issue).  

Here is the Help Article re: Scams.
https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000343128-How-to-Handle-Scams-and-Suspicious-Messages?seg...

Hope this is helpful to you, and may this garbage cease for you and for others. Best Wishes to you.

[JBPacrat]

There is no legitimacy. It is a scam.

[Amaradorn]

@CutshallCuttings please read the existing replies carefully. Every single one is talking about it being a scam!!