Latest / The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast / 52. How Can I Tell If an Etsy Message Is a Scam? | Etsy Tips For Sellers

Transcript

52. How Can I Tell If an Etsy Message Is a Scam? | Etsy Tips For Sellers · The Modern Etsy Seller Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hey there, welcome to the Modern Etsy Seller Podcast and What You're Wondering, the segment where I answer one specific Etsy question in under five minutes.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Melissa, a busyworking mom with two profitable Etsy shops, and I help other busy women make money with Etsy and print on demand.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Today's question is how can I tell if an Etsy message is a scam?
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: So scam messages seem to be especially common when you first open an Etsy shop.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: That's when the scammers come out in droves.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: They are counting on the fact that you don't know a lot yet.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: You may not know what a real Etsy order looks like or what information a buyer actually needs from you.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: And you probably don't know yet how Etsy communicates with sellers when there is a problem with their account.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: On top of that, they're playing into that new seller excitement around making your first sale.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: So when someone messages you and says they're trying to buy your product, but there's a problem with the order, it's really easy to think, oh my gosh, somebody wants to buy something, I need to fix this.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's what makes some of these scams so effective.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: They know you're excited and they know you're still learning how Etsy works and they are trying to take advantage of it.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I don't want you to fall victim to scammers.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: So today I want to go through the most common scam messages sellers are receiving, what you should be looking for, and a couple really easy ways to check whether a message is legitimate before you click on anything or give anyone information.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: So let's start with one Etsy specifically warns sellers about.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: It's a message from someone who appears to be interested in one of your products.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: They may start by asking a question about the item, but then they tell you they're having trouble completing their purchase.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: From there, they may tell you that they need your email address in order to place the order, or they may send you a link and tell you that you need to click it to confirm the purchase.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Etsy also specifically warns about messages that might contain a QR code that you're told you need to scan to confirm the order.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: These messages make it feel like there's just one little problem standing between you and a sale.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: The thing to know and remember is that a buyer will never need your email address to purchase something from your Etsy shop.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: You will also never need to click on anything a buyer sends you to find out whether you've made a sale.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: If someone tells you they placed an order, go directly to your Etsy shop manager and check your orders.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Don't click their link or scan their QR code.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: If an order was placed, you will see it in your account.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: If you get a message like this, stop interacting with the message and mark it as spam.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: Another one to watch for is a message from someone pretending to be Etsy support.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: These messages may tell you that there's a problem with your account or that you need to verify some information or that your shop could be suspended if you don't take action.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: They might include a link and direct you to a page that looks like Etsy where you're asked to enter personal or financial information.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: And some of these can look pretty convincing.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: They might use Etsy's logo, have a name like Etsy support, or use language that makes the message sound official.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: But Etsy gives us a really easy way to verify these messages.
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: And I love that they do this.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: Any legitimate message from Etsy will also appear in the From Etsy folder in your Etsy messages.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: So it will be in your inbox, but it will be there as well.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: It will also have a yellow From Etsy badge under the subject line.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: So if someone is claiming to be Etsy, that's the first place you should look.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Go into Messages in your seller account and open your From Etsy folder.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_00: If that same message isn't there, don't respond and mark it as spam.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: And just a side note, Etsy will never ask for your password through Etsy messages.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: So if someone claiming to be Etsy asks you for your password, that's another immediate red flag.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: So to wrap this up, be suspicious anytime someone is trying to move you off of Etsy to complete a transaction or asking you to communicate with them somewhere else.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: You should also be cautious of links that take you outside of Etsy, especially if the page you land on asks you to enter personal payment or account information.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: If you get a message and something just feels off, slow down and verify it directly through Etsy.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: Don't use the link or contact information the person gave you to do that.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: And really, if you remember just two things from this episode, make it these.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: First, if the questionable message is about a sale, check your orders.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: And second, if someone is claiming to be Etsy, check your From Etsy folder.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Those two simple checks can help you avoid a lot of these scams.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, that's it for today.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: But before you go, if you've been enjoying the podcast, I'd love it if you would take a minute to leave a rating and review.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: It helps more Etsy sellers find the show, and your feedback helps me create more of the episodes you want to hear.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you next time.