Can You Get Scammed on Etsy as a Seller?

Etsy is a popular multi-vendor marketplace platform dedicated to providing its users with an excellent experience - whether you're a seller or a buyer. Still, it's not immune to an ever-growing number of online scams. Buyers are usually victims, but can you get scammed on Etsy as a seller? Let's explore what every seller should know when joining this platform.

Etsy Is Dedicated to Protecting the Personal Information of Its Users

One of the main things that make Etsy such a success among all the best online selling platforms is its commitment to safety. One might say that this should be a no-brainer for every reputable platform, but that is not always the case. Etsy pays special attention to the protection of users' personal identifiable information, as well as financial information. 

Thanks to transport layer security (TLS) encryption, transactions are kept safe, and selling on Etsy is secure for both buyers and online sellers. However, even though the platform does whatever it can to protect its community, scams are inevitable. All we can do is inform ourselves about the commonly used techniques scammers try. 

Etsy Scams Usually Target Buyers - But Sellers Aren't Immune 

Most of the information about Etsy scams refers to scams where the victims are buyers - typically, they lose their money and never receive the products they thought they were purchasing. But what about the sellers? This is a topic that's not often talked about, yet it is of utmost importance for everyone who wants to run a successful Etsy shop. Yes, you can get scammed as a seller - scammers can hack Etsy accounts and access various information. You must learn how to protect yourself. 

How Can You Get Scammed on Etsy as a Seller? 

How does it all start? Somebody sends you a message, of course - so you need to learn to spot red flags in messages you receive on Etsy. Sellers are usually targeted if they sell expensive items. Scammers often use multiple accounts and forward the same message to numerous sellers - and the message contains little to no personalization. This should be the first warning sign to you. 

A scammer can pretend to be a potential buyer - in this case, they will ask for something irregular that you don't need in order to complete a purchase, like your email address. If you receive such a message, feel free to report it immediately. The other option is for a scammer to pose as Etsy Support. 

Suspicious Messages That Look Like They're From Etsy Support 

It should go without saying, but Etsy Support will never ask you to disclose your account information, such as your password. They don't make phone calls as well - there are fake numbers circulating online. Asking for any information that will help a person access your account means you're not interacting with real Etsy Support. The platform has created an account security checklist to help sellers protect their Etsy shops, so be sure to check it out. 

There is a fail-proof method to determine whether a message from Etsy Support is legitimate. No matter what the subject line is, the message should always appear in the "From Etsy" folder on the website. It should also have a "From Etsy" badge under the subject line. If these two conditions are fulfilled, you can be sure it's a real message from Etsy. However, if the message seems legit but is in a regular inbox, know that it's a phishing scam. 

How to Block Messages That Are Likely Scams?

Once you confirm the message is suspicious, the next obvious step is to report it as spam to block any further communication. Never respond to suspicious messages - Etsy highly discourages engaging with suspicious users, regardless of the reason. Here's how to block them:

• Go to the Etsy Seller app,
• Click on Messages, 
• Select the message in question, 
• Click on the three dots you can find in the top right corner,
• Choose the option Report spam. 

Common Scamming Techniques That Target Sellers 

We've mentioned fake buyers asking for your email. They often send a fake screenshot that looks like Etsy asking them to type in the seller's email. In case you fall for that, the scammer will send you a link to receive payment, where you'll find further instructions - and you'll end up scammed. Another trick that's used is claiming an issue with payment. The scammer can send a fake QR code and claim you need to scan it to confirm their payment. 

We must note a technique that many sellers don't recognize - a scammer offers to send a seller more money than needed for the intended purchase. If this happens to you, know that it's an overpayment scam. Lastly, let's mention a few more suspicious behaviors that point to a scam:

• A buyer who seems like they haven't read anything from your listing, 
• A buyer refusing to go through Etsy Checkout, 
• A buyer who seems particularly interested in an expensive item from your shop, 
• A buyer who wants to add something to the order and promises to pay you for that later.

These are all common techniques that scammers use, so it's quite important to keep them in mind when interacting with users that seem a bit suspicious to you. If you wish to learn more about how to protect yourself, check out the video below for more useful information:

Are You Selling Online Just on Etsy? Expand to Other Platforms and Start Crossposting

Focusing on one online marketplace platform might not be a good tactic for someone looking to grow their e-commerce business. If you expand to a few more online selling platforms apart from Etsy, you will be able to sell more items and sell them faster. However, crossposting does have its downsides - it's too complicated to keep track of all your listings. That's why you need multichannel listing software to help you. Our Zipsale is the solution to this problem - it's a brilliant crosslisting software that will make your life easier. Sign up today and give it a try!