orders

[BulletProofDuds]

Hi. I am just starting here and I received a message today for a woman wanting to place an order, asking for my email. Shortly after, I received an email from "Etsy" giving me a link to complete the order. Subsequently, I receive an error message stating the site could not be found. I am just wondering if this was more than likely a spam message, or if I am doing something wrong.

[ColoringRomance]

Scam, not spam.

Well . . . maybe both.

[nineteen27]

it is a scam.

please do  not click on links.

and just stop talking to that person.

@bradgoodell 

@FabioMcMustache 

[SilverFlorence]

Anche noi stamani abbiamo ricevuto il solito messaggio di richiesta mail e poi è arrivato un ordine. Menomale ho visto questo messaggio.

Grazie 

[bradgoodell · Accepted solution]

@BulletProofDuds 

Both the initial message and the email were part of the same scam.  Be grateful the link didn't work.

Online scams are running rampant right now.  I’ve put clues to the latest scam on top.  This list also contains clues to other common online scams.  Hopefully it will help you and other sellers.  Once you hit more than 2 red flags, shut down the conversation.  Here are the ones I think may pertain to your scam, in bold:

1. New seller
2. High dollar item or large sale amount
3. Odd or awkward-sounding language
4. They want to take the conversation off Etsy (they ask for your email)
5. Someone messages you and claims you may have been a victim of fraud, and requests your email address to "resolve the issue"
6. You get a (FAKE) message from Etsy Support telling you that they are having technical issues and asking if you've received notification of an order in the last few minutes.  
7. You get a (FAKE) Live Chat message.  
8. You get a phone call from someone claiming to be Etsy.  Etsy doesn’t cold-call sellers.
9. “Etsy Support” claims they want to contact you by text/SMS.  Etsy doesn’t text, they use Etsy messages and/or email.
10. Anyone claiming to be from Etsy who asks for your phone number or login information is a scam. 
11. You get a (fake) email requesting you "complete" the order as its currently on hold and asks your for your debit card information.
12. You get an email from (FAKE) Etsy saying Etsy is changing payment methods and will send money directly to your credit or debit card. Etsy has not changed their payment method.
13. You go back to their account, and it's gone
14. The original message has disappeared off Etsy, or has moved itself to your Spam folder.
15. They send you a link of some sort.  DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK
16. They claim they cannot check-out and need your email to complete the order.
17. They claim your Etsy checkout isn't working, and they send you a link to "fix it” 
18. You get an email from (FAKE) Etsy saying you need to do X to get your account verified.  
19. You get a (FAKE) email from Etsy claim you need to buy a high dollar pre-paid Visa or American Express card to get your Etsy account working
20.  They send you a link to a (FAKE) Etsy page that looks genuine and asks for your login and/or credit card details.
21. You find a (FAKE) Etsy phone number off the net and talk to a sympathetic customer service rep that wants you to download an app so they can access your account to fix something.  Etsy does not have a published phone number you can call.  It's a scam, the number is not Etsy's.
22. They want to take the sale off Etsy
23. They ask if something is "still available" when it's obviously for sale in your shop
24. They ask about the condition of an obviously new item
25. They ask if you are honest
26. There is some urgency, such as a birthday or anniversary
27. They claim they are in the Navy, an oceanographer, on a cruise ship, on a research vessel in Antartica
28. They ask you to buy a high dollar gift card and include it in the order
29. They will pay you extra for the inconvenience
30. They claim to have their own shipping company or pick-up agent
31. They claim an uncle is paying
32. They want to pay by money order or Cashier's check
33. They send you payment for far more than the order total
34. They want you to send the overage through Western Union, Venmo, etc.
35. They send you a (fake) PayPal email that says PayPal will release the payment after you send them the overage.

[BulletProofDuds]

Thank you so much!

[AFinerCutWoodworking]

Brad... I sure hope you have that list on some kind of autoloading feature! That's way too much to type out 6 times every day. A lot of these same red flags are found on Craigslist scams.

[bradgoodell]

I have it saved, since I post it multiple times a day lately.  

[CappuccinoLace]

The forums allow for macros - setup pieces of text, you just hit the macro button and select the one you want.

To setup - top of the forums - click your avatar - my settings - macros tab