message coming in saying buyer has issues with payment processing

[JensenDesignArt]

I just opened my shop about 3 weeks ago and have not sold anything yet, however i have just been receiving messages from a buyer saying that they are getting errors to pay for a product.  Etsy says to respond timely and when I do, the buyer sends me an email with a link (s3.984323.cfd/0575571584402889) that shows an etsy payments page asking for my credit card information for verification.

Has anyone encountered this and is this a scam email coming in? Please send your thoughts.

[Lionfishvintage]

SPAM. Don;t click on link. Mark as spam! 

[michellepatterns]

That's a scam. You are a target as a newer shop so make sure to educate yourself about scammers and how the etsy sales process works so you don't get robbed.  

[JensenDesignArt]

Thank you for your help!

[ModAngie · 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.

[SailingandDiving]

exactly what I did, after searching google for the message and seeing it's a spam.

Thanks for confirming!

[HalfSunCreations]

We’re a new shop too and have received 3 of these so far. Twice it’s happened right after we published a new listing. It’s ridiculous how quick they are to try to catch new sellers.

[vintageNCtreasures]

There's info under every message you receive on your message page NOT to click on links or go to other sites.
It's right below the message and right above where you reply.

It states this:
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.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@JensenDesignArt  The messages from Etsy will be located in your Messages > "From Etsy" on the left side. You will not see any Etsy messages in your Inbox. That will be spam.

Good luck with your new shop. It's always good to read the Seller Handbook and House Rules from time to time to stay updated. 

[Amaradorn]

@SugarTaffySoap genuine messages from Etsy appear in both the main inbox AND in the 'From Etsy' folder.

Genuine messages have an orange 'From Etsy/Etsy staff' badge on the message overview.

[CreatewithJulieTS]

i just encountered this too and am skeptical about it being a scam

[UppNorthEh]

Skeptical that it is a scam?  Don't be.  As everybody said above it is definitely a scam.

But don't be skeptical when Taylor Swift's people come calling.

[CostumeCoutureNaomi]

Just an fyi to you newer shops, sellers cannot do anything with customer payments, except for refunding through the order itself.

Etsy cannot talk to sellers about anything buyer finance related.

If a customer says that they are having payment or account issues, the only thing you can and should do is send them to Etsy's help pages.

Don't let yourself get caught up in trying to jump through hoops over customer payment issues as it will open you up to scammers exploiting new sellers.  Just send them to Etsy customer service.

[ChillwolfArt]

@JensenDesignArt   @CreatewithJulieTS  Hi, It sounds like you've been targeted by scammers, and I'm sorry about that. They tend to target new Sellers, often appearing within seconds after someone lists an item/s.  I have been seeing an increase of new Sellers coming to the Forum lately; some are 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 & Shipping" (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).  

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 both.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@Amaradorn  Here is a quote from ModAngie, Community Specialist posted recently: "Any legitimate message from us will show in your "From Etsy" folder" 

[Amaradorn]

@SugarTaffySoap Yes, but the message appears in both places. Your comment (further up) above implies that a genuine message from Etsy would NOT appear in the main inbox folder - this is incorrect and I didn't want it to confuse other people reading the forums.

The user avatar logo is indeed black. There is also an extra badge which is orange (at least, it is on the website). 

[SugarTaffySoap]

@Amaradorn  My last message From Etsy Support back in June of 2024 has a black logo. It's not orange. 

[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.

[SugarTaffySoap]

@Amaradorn  I just checked my Inbox and you are correct! There is a message from Etsy in both my Inbox and From Etsy folders.  The moderator's template (in bold), posted in this thread is incorrect.  So will you be addressing this with the moderator since you said to me about my post > "I didn't want it to confuse other people reading the forums" ?

[Amaradorn]

@SugarTaffySoap I think what the moderator wrote is correct. They didn't say only in the 'From Etsy' folder - if they had, then that would have been incorrect. Perhaps you just interpreted it differently.