These days, it's very easy to be scammed. Scammers are everywhere, and a wrong move might land you in their trap. These people operate fraudulently with the primary objective of deceiving careless and naive individuals and stealing their funds, personal details, and properties.
In this age of technological advancement, scamming has been on the rise, especially in online transactions. Etsy is an online shop/platform that connects buyers to sellers. Everything happens online except the delivery of the purchased product, and as such, there is a possibility of scammers targeting unsuspecting users using Etsy scams. Therefore, an unsuspecting Etsy user can get scammed while transacting on Etsy.
Etsy scammers are individuals who use Etsy to scam innocent people off their money. Scammers rely on an Etsy scammer list to prey on successful sellers who have a limited number of sales. For example, Etsy scammers will create multiple pseudo accounts using Etsy scam emails and send similar texts to various sellers without hinting at any singularity.
There are numerous scammers on Etsy, and they have particular strategies to fleece off naive sellers. They utilize Etsy scammer lists and go against Etsy scam policy. This article will discuss some of these scamming strategies in detail and how to avoid them.
Let's dive right in.
Types and Signs of Etsy Scammers
When you're shopping on Etsy, it's important to be aware of the possibility of scams. While most sellers on Etsy are honest and trustworthy, there are a few bad apples who try to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers. Here are some common types of Etsy scams, and how to spot them:
Send Phishing Email
Scammers have used phishing to fleece innocent and unsuspecting individuals in recent years. They go against the Etsy scam policy and swindle naive sellers or buyers. Phishing is the use of fake emails disguised as influential organizations to seduce people to disclose their private information, such as credit card details, passwords, properties, etcetera. Using Etsy scam emails works by coercing the unsuspecting seller to log in to a fake website using their Etsy details. This enables the scammers to retrieve the sellers' Etsy account information, including their payment details.
Low Price and High Awards Overtures
Etsy scammers use this particular strategy to trick and swindle buyers. For example, an Etsy scammer can give unreasonably low pieces for particular buyers' ideal products. They will use very catchy images that will entice the buyer to believe that the product is of premium quality, only for them to receive a fake and low-quality product. Furthermore, Etsy scammers send certain fake notifications to buyers, informing them that they have won particular awards from their stores. They will then ask the buyer to send some fee in the disguise of government tax, delivery cost, award deposit, etcetera. Therefore, to avoid getting scammed, it is important to note that nothing comes for free, especially money and products.
Suspicious Messages and Links
Similar to phishing, Etsy scam emails, suspicious texts/notifications, and online links can easily get an unsuspecting user scammed, surprisingly. Scammers who use this particular strategy are referred to as "catfish." It denotes the scammer who employs a pseudo-online technique to approach and seduce innocent buyers and sellers and swindle their hard-earned money. These scammers send online links that will lead the user to certain fake and tracked websites that will enable them to appropriate your details on Etsy.
Overpayment
This is a popular scam when a certain buyer sends a fake payment cheque to the seller claiming that they paid excess money unknowingly compared to the selling price and requests the seller to refund them the extra cash. This scam can also be referred to as Etsy scams refund. Such accidental overpayment is likely to create complications for the seller, and they need to be wary of such scam techniques.
Strange Payment Methods
While shopping on Etsy, it is vital to be quite careful with your bank account and credit card information. This is because there are particular Etsy scammers and/or sellers who will persuade you to pay them using unorthodox methods on platforms that are not associated with Etsy. When you pay them without scrutinizing the situation, you are likely to suddenly swindle your money. The common payment methods that scammers propose to be paid within Etsy scams include cheques, bitcoin, gift cards, debit/credit cards, etc.
Buyer Fraud
Particular scammers pose as buyers and whine that your shop has tricked them and claim for a reimbursement of their cash. For example, a scammer can message you claiming that they purchased a product but delivered an empty package. They can also claim that the delivered product is outdated, damaged, etcetera. It is imperative to know that these are lies and that you might easily fall victim to scammers. Such strategies are referred to as Etsy scams refund. Furthermore, such Etsy scammers will change their address so that the product is not sent anywhere and remains untraceable.
Urge to Act Immediately
One of the strategies that scammers use in Etsy scams is to pressure you to act immediately, thus denying you the opportunity to consider your alternatives. For example, a scammer will tell you not to hang up the phone, and this will prevent you from scrutinizing their legitimacy. Additionally, such scammers will try to intimidate you by saying they will revoke your documents, sue you in court, call the police to arrest you, and even hack your device if you do not cooperate with their demands.
What do I do if I get Scammed on Etsy?
After realizing that you have been scammed on Etsy, the first and most important thing to do is report the case to Etsy customer care. According to the Etsy scam policy, before reporting a particular case, it is important first to contact the seller/buyer and try to resolve the problem. After 48 hours and a particular party is not willing to cooperate, you can proceed to open a case with Etsy. The first step while reporting a case to Etsy is to log in to your account. You will then proceed and click "Your Account." Under this category, you will proceed to "Purchases and Reviews," where you can access previous orders and transactions.
After identifying the particular unsatisfactory order, you will select "Help with Order." The system will automatically give you an array of explanations to deal with different order complications. Proceed and click "Still Need Help?" and lastly, "Yes, I want to open a case." The system will then require you to explain the exact Etsy scam situation and why you want to open a case with Etsy. In this case, inform Etsy that the situation deals with not-as-described or non-delivery circumstances. An order is designated as not-as-described when the buyer receives an item that is quite different from the one listed on the website. A late order can also be categorized under not-as-described.
On the other hand, a non-delivery situation happens when the buyer did not receive any product, and the seller does not provide any guarantee or evidence that they dispatched the product. An order may also be described as non-delivery when the product has been sent to another address different from that the buyer had provided at checkout. After describing the exact rationale of the situation, you should click on "Next." The next crucial step is to provide comprehensive details to the Etsy support. This will provide enough evidence to enable them to believe your claim and help you collect the situation.
The particular kind of evidence that you should provide to Etsy includes the receipts, photographs, and messages. After this, the next step is to wait for Etsy to investigate the case and get back to you. Etsy is a good platform because it has an Etsy scam refund policy. Generally, Etsy takes quite a short period to solve such issues. However, if they request more information, make sure you provide them without delay. You can follow up on your case by checking on "Your Account" and clinking "Cases reported to you."
You can escalate the case when you perceive that your particular case is not being taken seriously. Escalating a case will ensure that a certified Etsy agent is specifically assigned to your case to help resolve it. Based on the detailed information that has been provided, the agent will decide whether the case is legitimate or not. It is also imperative to note that reporting a case can likely hurt the particular buyer or seller. According to the Etsy scam policy, the defendant will have to pay a separate fee, and the issue of the case will be visible on the particular profile. This will likely damage the buyer/seller's reputation, thus help any future users from falling prey to scammers.
How to Get Your Money Back If You've Been Scammed on Etsy
The first thing you should do is contact the seller and try to resolve the issue directly. If that doesn't work, you can file a claim with Etsy's Trust & Safety team.
Etsy's Trust & Safety team will investigate the claim and take appropriate action, which may include refunding your money or removing the listing from the site.
If the seller refuses to refund your money or if you can't get in touch with them, your next step is to contact your credit card company or PayPal and file a dispute. Be sure to include all of the relevant information, such as the listing URL, the date of the purchase, and the amount of money you paid.
It's important to remember that even if you're able to get your money back, the chances are that the item you purchased is a fake. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they're getting better at making their fake items look real. If you receive a refund for your purchase, be sure to destroy the item so that no one else can be scammed.
How to Avoid Being Scammed on Etsy
You can use particular strategies to avoid getting scammed on Etsy in 2022. Some of these strategies include the following:
Scrutinize the Link before Clicking
Scammers use phishing as a primary strategy for defrauding their victims. They send particular strange links that will lead you nowhere. Firstly, do not click on that link nor download any particular file. Carefully scrutinize the particular Etsy scam emails that have been used and the particular writing font and style. Afterward, check the email, and if it does not follow these structures, that is, @mail.etsy.com or @etsy.com, it is advisable to block such emails immediately, which will ensure that you do not lose your private information to scammers.
Resist the Pressure to Act Immediately
Many victims of the Etsy scam are swindled because they act too fast without hesitation. To avoid falling victim to such swindlers, you should resist any urgency to act immediately. Do not follow any particular instructions that some strange individuals on Etsy instruct you. According to Etsy policy, if there is any meaningful message or decision they need from you, they will accord you enough time to think about it. Hence, if a stranger persuades you with fake urgencies, you must scrutinize if the particular account authentically belongs to Etsy or is it the inverse.
Do Not Disclose any Personal Information
Most Etsy scammer lists will approach you by impersonating Etsy staff and request your personal information claiming that they would like to connect with you easily. It is imperative to note that should be no different relationships between buyer and seller other than the delivery and reception of products. To avoid getting scammed, you should not disclose any of your private information other than that that is in your Etsy profile.
Scrutinize their Preferred Method of Payment
Generally, scammers on Etsy prefer to be paid using gift cards, bitcoin payments, credit/debit cards, etcetera. Therefore, remember not to pay anyone using these methods, especially from the Etsy website. Do not send any cheque or money back to anyone for those scammers who claim to have an overpayment for a certain product. If you realize that you have paid an Etsy scammer using your debit/credit card, notify your bank and company to follow up on the issue immediately. Careful scrutinization of the payment method will help you not fall victim to such scamming strategies.
Ignore Unreasonable and/or Valuable Awards/Promotions
Particular scammers might approach you using quite unreasonable or valuable promotions or awards. This is a strategy that the majority of Etsy scams use to attract buyers to think they are lucky. For example, the buyer might well see a counterfeit notification informing them that they have won a prize. The moment the buyer clicks that particular notification, the scam game has begun.
Check the Quality and/or Legitimacy of the Shop
Particular shops have quite peculiar ratings and comments. For example, if you find a shop with many negative comments, it is better to avoid it and seek a unique shop. The special price of products and the delivery costs is another aspect you should consider. Some scammers deliberately lower their prices unreasonably to trick buyers into purchasing empty boxes and/or damaged products.
How to Protect Yourself from Future Scams on Etsy
The best way to protect yourself from being scammed on Etsy is to be an informed buyer. Before you make a purchase, take some time to research the seller and read their reviews.
If a seller doesn't have any reviews, that's a red flag. You should also be suspicious of sellers with only positive reviews, as these could be fake.
When you're looking at a listing, pay close attention to the photos and description. If something doesn't seem right, don't hesitate to contact the seller and ask questions.
If you're ever in doubt, trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Conclusion
An unsuspecting user can get scammed on Etsy. However, this article provides enough information on the particular strategies that scammers use, the appropriate steps to take after realizing you have been scammed, and the strategies to avoid getting scammed. Therefore, while transacting online using Etsy, it is imperative to be quite alert and avoid any unnecessary hurry.
Etsy is generally a safe place to shop, but there are always going to be some bad apples. If you think you've been scammed, don't hesitate to report it and to take steps to get your money back.
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