aimeesarmoire

Ugh! They've even infiltrated Etsy. Dang scammers... grrrrrrrrrrrrr

IrinaPhotography

Thank you for the article. It's helpful.

MarcellasExcess

For Shame...thanks for the heads up Etsy!

dbabcock

Thank you for the information. I'll pass this information along to my etsy team.

bubbletime

So sleazy. Thanks for the info, I hope they don't snag anyone.

Morado

Safety first! :o) Thanks for sharing and the awarness

madebysam

Good to know! Thanks

foamywader

Helpful knowledge as always!

dreamalittledream

Glad this post showed up!

BlueShoeStudio

What a sad reality, but we won't let "them" win!
Always be aware of your surroundings... wherever you may be...

RagnazIdnar

Good to know. I will be sharing this tip with my team at our next meeting. Thanks!

tennyoceres

Here too? That's a shame. Be safe and be careful everyone!

satellitedaisy

too bad we must always be on the alert but
better safe than sorry...thanks for the info and
for watching out for us!

yaelfran

thanks so much!! I didn't know anything about that...

GulfCoastCottagePDF

Thanks for bringing this up!

beautifulbridget

Thanks for the head's up!

1AEON

haha! love the wooden prisoners!!!

DownToTheWireDesigns

This happened to me here a couple years ago. After spending much time going back and forth with this person about whether or not I would allow them to pay via a money order (I don't usually accept them) I finally agreed and then the person emailed to say that they would send it for several hundred dollars more than the amount. What really irked me was that this was such an obvious scam and that they had wasted much of my time with their convos. I immediately canceled the sale and sent them a nasty email.

I now accept only PayPal for payment. You don't need a PayPal account to pay with PayPal-- you can pay with a check or a credit card. There is no reason why a person cannot find a way to pay with PayPal that works for them.

EuphoriaDoria

There's always a scammer out there trying to ruin things for everybody ;(

DecoDeli

I had an embroidery business once, and this was also common in the garment industry. It's very real, and very icky! Thank you for sharing this with everyone!

bijougirldesigns

SCARY. Glad my eyes are opened to it though. Thanks for the article and for keeping us informed!

QueenBeeInspirations

Thank for the alert - I really learn so much on the storque.

mazedasastoat

It's so sad that people like this are infecting Etsy. Somehow you expect it on other sites, but here? The Etsy community are generally way above that sort of thing thank goodness!

beachhouseblues

Thanks for the heads up.

kenjiku

This is sad! I have been in the fraud industries for 15 years (not doing fraud BUT detecting it) the sad thing is some people fall for it and lose ALOT. Like Downtothewiredesigns says! PAYPAL only

BellyDancePrincess

Thanks for letting us know ETSY!

WingsDove

It's easy to become complacent in the friendly and "home-like" online Etsy environment. Sadly, the scam that is mentioned in this article happens all over the place on the Internet and anyone who is new to the Web may be unprepared for this type of deviousness.

Thank you for the alert. Keep up the excellent work.

aBreathofFrenchair

Good reminder!

BlueTerracotta

Thanks so much for the information!

twolefthands

Thanks for the information! It's a real shame!

moonthroughfog

thank you for the warning! This is very good to know.

MeadowbelleMarket

Thank you for the article. It is a very good reminder to us all--we may be inclined to please our customers, but be wary and draw the line.

slumptown

Thanks for the info. It is always good to be reminded of what is out there.

That70sShoppe

Great advice and reminder.

baconsquarefarm

Thanks for the info, appreciate it~!

pandawithcookie

Love the Girls On Parole book that is featured with this.

dragonhouseofyuen

thank you for highlighting this.
Sad that these types of people exist in this world and hopefully we can keep them out of etsy.

MissKiwisCrafts

Good to know thanks!

KBShimmer

Wow, even on etsy you can't get away from these scammers. How sad :(

Slowshirts

We're so very glad you wrote an article about this. Ever since we have started selling higher priced items in our shop (furniture/stools) we have received multiples of these scam type emails. Every one is to the same tune, an offer to buy said product, but not through etsy using their own movers and payment with a money order or cashiers check.

I've been meaning to make a posting in the forums on the matter to warn other sellers, and i'm happy you beat me to it. I never considered sending these emails to abuse@etsy either, so thanks!

beehappy2005

i've always loved how safe the etsy community has felt, but unfortunately we do have to be very cautious no matter what site we're on.

LushPunk

Wow - good to know about this! Thanks for the heads up :)

erinkeys

WOW! I had no idea this was going on.....scary

TheFancyLamb

Thanks for always looking out for us!

ModFarmgirl

Scary! Thank you for the article and bringing this to our attention!

avantanthologue

interesting.
recently someone contacted me and asked for photos taken wearing a leather mini skirt i have for sale. they asked for 2 photos: one wearing pointed heels, and another sitting, crossing my legs. i did not have time to take the photos immediately but then when i checked back, the person's account had been removed. has anyone experienced anything similar? are there people sneakily asking for fetish photos?

avantanthologue

oh and it had an elaborate explanation as to why they wanted those poses (they were going to wear it to a wedding, etc etc)

merlinsbarkproducts

Great advice!

zeropumpkin

this is useful thanks alot :)

VintageJamie

Really good post. Thank you!

bittersweetdesign

Wow - too bad they're here now too.
avantanthologue - that is just CREEPY!
Etsy thanks for the post and working to keep us safe!

jenniferdennispotter

Thanks so much for reporting on this and helping people to be aware of it.

poppyswickedgarden

Yes Sad enough most of us sellers that have been here for a while have had to deal with scammers!
You always have to be careful unfortunately!
Also be sure to use the paypal address provided if they pay through paypal to avoid paypal scammers too!

thebestvintage

Thank for the tip.
Lots of bad guys out there.

bonecalinda

Thank you for sharing this information!! I haven't experienced this scenario on Etsy but have been approached on Craigslist multiple times. If it's too good to be true....

OverTheTop

I have been approached by these scammers on Craigslist too. Interesting that my earrings were chosen for this Storque article! :O

peaseblossomstudio

A much needed article here!

sweetmini

Very, very helpful info. Thank you so much for sharing with us :)

FluteTeacher

Thanks for sharing this.

karuski

Thank you for this important information. It's good to realize that scammers are (unfortunately) all over the web.

MyGrandmasAttic

So they have made their way into our happy little community. Thanks so much for the heads up!

soule

Thanks for posting this! I reported one of these months ago, someone wanted to buy a large painting from me. I had a funny feeling about the "extra" amount they wanted to send, I sent all my convos to Etsy abuse and they took care of it within minutes! Thanks you Etsy! We LOVE LOVE LOVE you!

jesophi

««;0 thanks!!

lollieliciousdesigns

Thanks for posting this. Great information!

sushibooties

wow.. thanks for the info..

LadybugSF

How horrible. I was scammed out of four hundred bucks when I was a freshman in college... man did I learn my lesson!

curlyfrysc

It's sad that people fall for this. Thank you for making people more aware so they can avoid it.

BirdhouseBlessings

Thank you, I have heard of this scam before but I never thought about them trying something like this on Etsy, but why not?

3squares

LOVE the related item picks...

AwApplesauce

It's so sad that even Etsy is prone to scammers. Even a wonderful community like this isn't safe from scumbags :(

cjBlue

Thank you for staying on top of things and getting the word out!! LOVE ETSY!!

sleepypillow

Thanks for letting us know. We just gotta be more careful..

underthewire

Thanks for the heads up. I've heard of this in emails, but this is the first I've heard of it on online retailers.
The FTC has additional info on the same problem and a place on their site to report repeated occurrences:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consu...

KOALACaddie

Thank you very much. In today's world we now have TWO admonitions: Let the Buyer Beware, and Let the Seller Beware.

VintageTwenty

Warning appreciated. PayPal is the route to go.

adoreneko

Thanks for raising awareness of this very important issue.

loopyboopy

Yep..if it kinda smells fishy from the start, it probably is fishy. Follow your gut.

PomLove

Silly scammers! Etsy is on to you.....:)

mixeralex

Keep playing it straight

beccamari

Thanks for the heads up!!!!

sweetoldstuff

Very important info thank you

dollsndogs

Thanks,
There are other ways that scammers take advantage of those looking for a real big sale or a real good deal. Stop, ask, listen, and think. Still in doubt--do without!

theivorymagnolia

thank you for posting this. it's terrible what ppl will do to take advantage of others.

kittytrishia

Thanks so much for posting this, glad the word it out. Always keep your eyes open.

originalsbyannemarie

Thank you, Etsy, thank you very much!

JAdamsDesigns

WOW! I didn't know that one was out there! Thanks for keeping us informed Etsy!!

MyWisteriaCottage

I wondered when it would show up here. It seems everywhere. Please also talk about pay pal safty as my daughter of My Dandilion Garden was taken with a pay pal scam. Her only purchases were through etsy but a seperate email was send directly to her. Unfortunatly she gave them the information they asked for and they drained her paypal account before she knew it. It was not someone on Etsy but the theif became aware of her because she was buying things on Etsy. Such a shame!

kiwiproductions

thanks for the awareness. by the way, is there reason to sell stuffs via check/ money order vs paypal? or does this scam work for paypal users too?

Osier

be careful with chargeback fraud over paypal too, although you cant really do anything about it, except look over a persons feedback beofre you send your items.

blueberryshoes

hahha, i love that you chose "criminal" items as the featured pictures. so awesome.

ArtDecoDame

thanks for the heads up!

rawbeauty

this type of fraud has been going on for awhile now, but, it seems like they have gotten even better at the scam

Thanks for the good article!

birribe

Thanks for this very informative article. You need to be aware of it.

alatvian

Thank you so much!

eclecticarmadillo

Thanks for the heads up article! I did recently report someone who had established an etsy account and sent a convo to me that same day for scamming purposes. The shop owner had already hearted nearly 200 shops, mostly quilt shops. I checked back later in the day and that shop had already been terminated! Thanks abuse@ etsy for doing your job!

bylynnkrestel

thanks for the heads up!!

KAPARA

Thank you very much!

kissavintagedesign

Thanks for the great info! Any/all articles re: the various fraud tactics of (atypical) Etsy users are welcome and needed ... Please keep 'em coming!

themagpiesdaughter

*be's alert*

retrothreadz

Thanks for the heads up, people are such creepers

DanceInMyGarden

Thanks for the info...!

steinschmuckdesign

Thank you!

slinkymalinkicat

Thanks for the information!

fabricfarrago

Unfortunately, this is why I do not accept checks or money orders from anyone. :( I know Paypal isn't completely safe either, but it is definitely safer than using a check or money order, which can be forged easily.

SimpleTraditions

Wow, thank you so much for warning us! It's sad that there are people in the world like that.

SingingSky

Oy! The nerve of some people! Thanks for keeping us updated.

zombuki

Thanks for the head's up, I'd never heard of this!

undertheroot

thank you!!

mythunderstood

Thanks - ran into that on Craig's List years ago.

BlueNostalgia

Yep I worked at a bank before etsy, and it happens all the time.

stitchknitsew

Thank you so much for maikng us aware of this!

missrubysue

If you don't feel good about it, don't do it. If it's not the normal way to pay, no way.

lovelygifts

Thanks for the info!

BabbidgePatch

Thank you for the information and awareness ~ I was targeted on my non-Etsy site. It's unbelievable to what lengths these scammers will go to and what products they will target!

AlliumDesign

Kudos to etsy for being on top of this and relaying the info to those whom it can potentially harm. Yep, our world is a bit less safe now, but with the knowledge of what to look for and what to do if this happens...we can still enjoy our wonderful world! It sounds so cheesy...but true! :)

BeadFloraJewels

Thanks!

BungeeReiIwama

great

SweetwaterGifts

Thanks for keeping us informed. I'm sticking with Paypal. If it really is a great order - they'd be willing to follow your procedures! PS - would you send more money than needed to a seller, just to ask for it back. Some things just smell bad.

thingsbuilt

sometimes people are just plain evil.

artisticaexpressions

Thanks so much for the info. Sounds extremely helpful.

tldgrainwear

Thanks for keeping us aware. I was targeted on my blog and when you realise it's so annoying and frustating...cheers!

skylerae

Thank you for keeping us aware! It is really important to be able to know and spot out the signs of a scam! Its to bad that people want to make money the "fast and easy" way that all this has happened. What ever happened to working hard for what you have? I'm only 22 and I've had those values beat into my head.

Gypsee16

Where there is a will, there is a way. Have received several emails from Malaysia inquiring about my products. They seemed to be very interested in Paypal. Be careful about your security passcodes to Paypal. Even back and forth communications, thieves can hack into your IP computer addresse.

EJPcreations

They keep just getting more and more sly don't they.

earthexpressions

OMG! I have heard this before... Take care people!!

paperpatternsilk

I hate scammers. : (

MidnightDesignStudio

Thanks for posting this and keeping us in the know! I agree with everyone above.. it is such a shame to have scammers preying on the world of handmade goods.. as if we all don't already work hard enough as it is!

RetroHouse

I had this happen to me when I was selling an old boat on another site. I don't know if it is like this everytime but the email I got was suspicious looking from the start - Lots of bad grammar and also the entire title of my advertisement was pasted into the message in caps. This article is great for heightening awareness - Nice job!

cintillajewelry

Lock em up!

lizzibelle

I've heard of scams like these, but never thought of it happening on etsy! atleast now everyone knows.

summerground

Wow! Thanks for the warning!

FloweringEarthBeauty

Oh gosh this is terrible!

JiaStyle

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THESE HELPFUL INFOS!!!

klacustomcreations

thanks for the info, it never crossed my mind that they would even hit Etsy sellers!

FashionTouch

Thank you for information, good to know. I never do any transactions untill the check is cleared. I always warn my buyers using the check option, that it may take up to 15 business days or even more (for international) and I will not be able to send the items, neither do anything else, untill it is cleared.

Agree with Gypsee16. And if you are using wireless routers and any unlocked/unprotected internet connection. Since I am a bit in tech work, it is very easy for someone around you to know your logins and etc when you are using this type of connection.

camelliacollection

Yes indeed, Thanks for the information! So helpful. Especially being new to Etsy.

capturedimagination

I knew they had been doing this through craigslist but not on Etsy! I've seen one of the emails sent to a freind of mine who is a massage therapist. The letter was asking to book the therapist for a large event. It stated that the check for payment would come from his company and that his comission would be included, so the therapist would have to send back the commission. Luckily my freind had a bad feeling and did not accept the offer. It looks like they are trying this scam on everything!

dadadreams

Thanks for the helpful info!

FabricAttractions

Thank you so much for the great advice! It's a shame that the bad guys always try to ruin things for the good guys.

TittaME

Wow! Thanks for this article. I appreciate the heads up. I would have never guessed that scammers like this would have infultrated ETSY. What a shame!

sandali

Let's be aware & drive out these low-life crazy creatures -- we will not be tricked !!!!!

simpledream2

This scam was attempted by brynstraker on 6/12/09

by brynstraker profile shop contact

Hello,
my name is Mrs
Straker,I got your sales from ETSY and I would like to purchase this
Items with you on a dealership,not with the company cause i am new on
computer and i don't operate credit card.....All I want is (Echo quilt-10 - shabby chic - little girls, lap quilt, nap quilt, listing #25516123) and also you
dont need to worry about the shipping because I have shipping company that will pick it up from you...Meanwhile,
I will send Cashier's Check AS mode of my payment for the products kindly get back now with
the total amount of the item and your full contact address where you want the payment to delivered ,,, looking forward to
your responce hopefully soon. Thanks and best Regards
Bryn Straker
get back to this mail brynstraker [!at] yahoo.com
12 June 2009 8:46pm EDT

After several convo's to this "buyer" asking for a mailing address, she asked for my phone number. I replied:

Bryn,
I made note on the quilt listing that it is on HOLD for you until 6/20. Payment and mailing address/instructions will need to be received by 6/20. Again, I run my business via email or Etsy not phone. If you have any questions, please email.
Thanks,
Lisa

I got a VERY uneasy feeling with her 1st convo and did not reveal a mailing address, I sent her a PO box to send the payment to, needless to say it's not been received yet and after two more convo's telling her I do business via email she stopped replying AND I've tried several times, her shop is closed.

BLATANT SCAM.........be very watchful. If I am wrong I will apologize, but no more convo's and closed shop is a BIG red flag to me.

BE CAREFUL........Lisa

whitemetal

We received an email from "PayPal" once and the title of the email was addressed to "Our Customer" or something like that. We knew it looked a bit dodgy to begin with then we went onto paypal to check out what they have to say about internet scamming and ways to avoid it happening to you. They mentioned that PAYPAL will never address you as "dear user/ sir/madam" etc they will AlWAYS address you with your name. The fake emails are almost exactly the same as the real ones, even the small type at the bottom of the page can be very convincing. they have a good section on the PAYPAL website in the security section. It explains ways that you can spot fraudulent emails and shows you other ways to protect yourself when buying and selling on the internet.

Safe trading to all!!

DianaEvans

great reads everyone...I even got an e-mail from a Paypal scammer...I sent it to paypal right away and they confirmed it wasn't sent from them....when in doubt always look into things...it is better then dealing with issues that may arise from the whole mess.......

Iammie

Thanks.

MichelleStudio

Good to know.

RockisSupplies

It sad that there are people out there like this, so thank you for spreading this type of info - it is very helpful. Thanks.

KaelinDesign

Great article, Etsy, we had someone use this scam to try and buy a car from us on-line. We got the fraudulent money orders, and turned them over to my bank who turned them in to FBI! Who knew people can be so conniving?

ChristianHaylie

Thanks for posting this! I have been hearing a lot about this lately on here

GetReadySetGO

this happened to me. i got a convo from a person named "joan" she wanted to buy 5 bags and told me to email her. i did and we spoke via yahoo chat. low and behold a check was sent to me for 1,200 dollars- more than double the amount of the bags she wanted- THE NEXT DAY! i called the police and spoke with a detective who told me it was a Nigerian Scam. he told me to keep the check and the next time i heard from the woman to tell her i wasn't cashing her check and had contacted the authorities. the detective told me she would probably threaten to sue me and report me as well- guess what? that's exactly what she did. he told me to just ignore it and after about 3 days of threatening emails i never heard from her again. this was over 6 months ago and i haven't heard from her since. i just wanted to share in case any one else had a similar situation. mine slightly varied from the scenario written about above.
scammers are THE WORST:(

20BucksorLess

Good News!! Theres plenty of room available in the State Prison System. We invite all you scammers to convert to convicts. Where you will have your identity stripped to blue denim, never be able to choose what to wear again. Wont have to worry about what to eat for dinner....because your menu is chosen for you. And dont try to steal from the kitchen, the Sup there is a real b*tch who has no compassion, wont shed one tear if you dont get an extra biscuit. In fact if you try to steal or be rude....you'll get your room tossed, you'll get your room tossed. Yes, the only space left you have in this world is not really yours...Ha Ha. Welcome to reality Scum Bag.

Hope your big and strong so you can ward off the most forward of advances you've ever known....because theres no-one there to help you and no-one that really cares. In fact due to all the new medical privacy laws, if your sent to the infirmary, the prison doesnt even have to tell your family. When they call because you haven't written or communicated (yes, they fear your dead), the prison cannot legally share with them that you are in the hospital, having been shanked 13 times...or was it the orafice crammed magazine...hmmm? I dont recall. Anyway, isn't being a scumbag the greatest. What shall your epitaph say about you?

StrungAlong

I use to advertise on facebook. Criminals will get you anyway they can. I opened an email from someone posing as my friend. It was her exact email address. When I tried to open the email it infected my computer with a virus. I frantically tried to stop the infecting virus by purchasing a virus program that "popped" up on the screen. Purchasing the virus program cost $150.00(I already had an existing program in my computer). Needless to say, the virus program was part of the scam. I was out $150.00 and another $200.00 on top of that to take my computer to Best Buy so they could manually remove the virus. Now I don't advertise anywhere! I am relying on word of mouth and my business cards. Some people are just out to make a quick dollar at someone elses expense. What ever happend to making the money the hard way!

fashionsintime

I get a similar version of this scam at least once a month on my own website. The "buyer" is always a "store" in Nigeria, and they want to buy 500-1000 pieces of a $15 item. However, they need me to ship it Fedex, overnight guaranteed, and do it the same day. Since I only do custom, made to measure, I couldn't possibly fill an order like that without the measurements and it would take weeks, not a few hours for me to be ready to ship. The scary part is that the credit card numbers they give me are good, but the names and addresses DO NOT match, so obviously the card info is stolen. The "buyer" always has some obviously bogus name like "Eddie Murphy" or "Jack Black". How these people think they could turn 1000 purple velvet renaissance caps into cash in Nigeria is beyond me.

mammysshop

Thank you for this information.

alittledream

Wow, very enlightening. Thanks so very much for the heads up and to all who listed their experiences with the scams. It seems no matter how hard you try, someone ALWAYS tries to ruin it for others.

fashionjewels4u

Thanks so much for the info...It is amazing that people still try this scam...but as long as there are people who want to sell enough to fall for the scam...they will continue to pull it as often as they can!

artsyfingers

Thank you for this information, it seems that anything that comes from Nigeria is a scam be aware also of the Nigerian lottery scam, and fake PayPal letters,they will try to get to your account, make sure that those letters start with you full name before reading them.

TownCountryJewelry

Thank you all for posting this information. It is helpful to hear about the latest scams to beware of. I have had many attempts to have my Paypal identity stolen, and sometimes they are really hard to "see through". Now I just send any email from Paypal back to them for authenticating. You can't be too careful! It is good to have a heads up on this.

BizzieLizzie

Oh, just go away already!!

Thanks for keeping us reminded of these pests! I'm going after 'em with my GoGo Gadget Gun!

Pelayna

Thank you for the informative article. I am new to Etsy and selling online and it looks like I will have to change my payment information to PayPal only. And now I am strongly considering getting a PO Box just for Etsy purchases.
Thanks for the heads up!

BJMoore

THANKS so very much for your assistance with my "issue" of such an attempt. I seem to have been hit with a number of them to my email and now one to my Etsy; these people are such Predators!! I would hate for ANYONE to become a victim to this type of crime.
Thank-you for your prompt attention.

rubytoo1

Kudos to etsy admin. This is important info and ignorance is not bliss. They had me going for a minute, because it came on etsy, now I know it's everywhere.

craftpile

Thank you and cute choices :)

EJPcreations

So helpful! Thank you Etsy!

thebestvintage

Thanks for the tip!

TimeEchoVintage

Hilarious related items!

paramountvintage

i've never even heard of this. thanks for keeping us aware.

cassidycay

Wow! Thanks for the heads up!

1AEON

we got a ton of those a'hole emails..

MerCurios

Wow! I had no idea this moved over into the Etsy world. Thanks for the warning.

VivatHandmade

What a nightmare! Thanks for posting this--I didn't realize it would be a problem on etsy too.

VintageHoneysuckle

Thank you so much for the information.

zombiequeensusan

Thanks for the warning. I'm very thankful we have more good honest people here on Etsy than bad.

aimeesarmoire

It's so frustrating that this scam has made its way to Etsy; unfortunately, it is a scam that is found everywhere these days. Keep vigilant, and don't give the scammers a reason to hang around Etsy! If people wise up to this, scammers will have to find another place to try their tactics! Thanks again for the reminder, Etsy.

ornamentsbydeb

I wish all people could just be honest and good. :(

bittersweetdesign

Thanks for the info - both from Etsy and from all the sellers that have shared their experiences. It is much appreciated!

BoringSidney

I recevied one of these convos the other, and I am very thnakful that I found it suspicious, I reported it to admin, and ignored it.

thirtyonedesigns

Thanks :)

ShimmeringSky

Thanks for the article Admin, but my surprise is not from the scams (the Nigeria scam and variations of it are years old), but of how many posts above me that say they've never heard of anything like this before.

As a former Trust and Safety agent with another major website, I can't stress enough that if you are even the least bit unsure of a transaction, to ask

1) Etsy (contact support@etsy.com or abuse@etsy.com to ask their opinion & set your mind at ease,
2) a trusted friend who is more experienced using the internet, or
3) other sellers, either in forums, convos or in labs.

Rest assured that if it is a legitimate buyer, they will understand your wanting further confirmation before shipping the item. Don't bend to any pressure tactics.

I'm always available to assist by convo if anyone has any concerns about a transaction, and here are some great sites for more information about internet fraud, phishing and identity theft:

www.usacops.com
www.ec3.gov
www.yoursecurityresource.com
www.onguardonline.gov

Bobbie

DiademJewels

Nice article. I got some of these a few months back. I knew they were scamming though.

opendoorstudio

this has happened to me 2 times this past week. and I forwarded to etsy... nice article and very informative! thanks

yenjewelry

thanks for sharing. i am new to trying etsy and this is useful to me.

opendoorstudio

I was surprised to find it here ... I thought we, here at etsy, were safe from that kind of thing... then I was commenting on a storque article and just 2 posts above me was another blatant scammer... linking people to another web site to buy designer knock offs!
How disheartening it was to see that on Etsy! but I am ever hopeful that we will be vigilant!

daileedose

Nice article Etsy!

kaylah7

off subject but daileedose, your avatar is soooo cute!

sandscrochet

Thank you for all the invo- will keep my head up on this. I get these Nigerian things in my emails all the time - crazy people!!!!!!!

baconsquarefarm

What you described happened to us last week, I just deleted it and wondered if I should have reported this to etsy, if it happens again I'll send a report. Thanks for sharing this with all of the community~!

ManoCelebrates

Thanks a lot for the information. Never happened here on Etsy, thought we were safe, but seems like a lot people have suffered through this scam! So sorry to hear that! What a shame!!!!!

moderntoretro

I just got one of those scames under the name MONILINDA5..keep an eye for that erson..it is a scam like the rest.

moderntoretrojewel

this person allenbuchatter3 is one of the scamers..send the me exact letter to the other store.. Nigerian scam..beware of that person

twolefthands

Thanks for the info! It's a crazy world we live in!

IndyGrrrlProductions

I love the cat shirt!

ModernMeetsWhimsy

heads up much appreciated- i believe this has happened to a few members a while back, though they never sent/took any money!

Jashme

I received a convo like the one descibed this past week. When I went to report the scammer, Etsy had already deleted his/her account. So happy to see Etsy on top of this.

KCsCreations

I appreciate the info. It would be interesting to know if other sellers also encounter people who ask you to donate things for "free" exposure. How do you check it out to make sure it is ligit. Any info would be appreciated.

nickiefrye

Yikes man, who the heck has time to come up w/ this stuff? Why on earth don't they simply apply themselves to doing something honest?? Creeps.

sansmap

great info on what to look out for, especially for an Etsy newcomer like me!

qualitybeadworks

I am 70 years old and new to etsy, but I have been selling on the internet since 2006 after I got my first computer. I didn't feel safe taking checks or money orders so set up a account with paypal. I also didn't want to give my personal e-mail address as a business contact. I set up a address with yahoo to convo though and also to recieve payment for paypal. Paypal only contacts me though my personal e-mail address. You would be surprised how many paypal scams I have recieve though my yahoo e-mail address. My advice is if you get any kind of e-mail telling you your account is in question , bank,paypal whatever. do not answer it. Go to the site and ask questions. Most financial institutions will not ask for personal information in an e-mail. It is a shame because of a few we have to be on guard all the time.

WearingHistory

I can't believe people would do something so awful.
Thank you for the informative post.

westbyron

I've gotten some suspicious convos along these lines, where the sender proposes some elaborate purchase/wholesale arrangement and then doesn't respond back when pushed for details. Be on guard!

VintageScraps

I know this isn't the point, but those pictures are hilarious!!

TrilliumTrue

Thanks for the heads up ETSY! Let's stay informed!

shizendesigns

Thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out. Yikes!

HomeStudio

Thanks for addressing this. But I also love the criminal cat shirt.

OnTheRound

I shake my fist at being scammed!

Scrapatorium

How ironic that this article is about scams because I happen to have been ripped off too. It just so happens that the photo of the mugshot you used to illustrate your story was ripped off from me, without permission. I own that original mugshot photo and that person copied it and used it make cards. Sorry, but that stinks!

MyMoms

Thank's for the info!

alittledream

Thank you Etsy for this post. I am glad that I copy and pasted my scammer info to you so you could help me before I went through with this transaction. The person sounded legit and I was flattered that they wanted my mosaics. The fact that they wanted so many at once is what caught my attention. Thanks for saving me the headaches and money loss that would have happened otherwise. Greatly appreciated

recycledwares

thanks for sharing information like this, which will keep etsy a safer place.

seababejewelry

No Phishing!

gretchenmist

what a complicated convoluted way to scam people! when will this type of stuff end?!
thanks for the warning.

accentonvintage

There is always someone out there who wants to fleece you. That's happened to my husband on Paypal , int he mail and on the phone. Thanks Etsy for being on the alert.

homegrownstyle

I just can't believe these people could figure out a way to apply this scam to etsy! wow...some people have way too much time on their hands...

OhFaro

Good to see this posted here.

odiliafu

I have heard about the scam on EBay a year ago. Too bad it's got to Etsy. Sometimes, I'm wondering whether to accept wholesale order from someone without feedback, and PayPal can't provide full seller protection.

Anyway, thanks for sharing the very useful info!

anticovalore

thank you, it's important to tell us this things!

urssika

Thank you so much. It is important to know specialy if you are new among Etsy sellers:)

SnowJaneVintage

I was listening on the radio, about a year ago, on this situation. Horrible, horrible! It was very sad to hear some of the stories and how they were taking money from elderly people who wiped out their savings account to give to these crooks. Sad situation. Glad to have been informed on this, but I think it's great that you guys are reaching out to our fellow Etsy families.

WingsDove

'Tis wise to be on the alert at all times, especially on the Internet where everything is so open and accessible to everyone to use and abuse. All orders, large or small, should be accompanied with at least a deposit, IMO.

feltanomicon

that is so disconcerting... i guess you're not safe from scammers anywhere on the interent and the only way to be safe is to limit you payments to paypal only... so sad!

vivikas

Thanks for the heads up!

ohmiroir

Always good to know! THANK YOU! x

discodip

thanks for the information!

StellaPesci

I got one of these e-mails a few days ago, from someone asking for my personal e-mail address, home address, telephone #, and saying that they'd send me a cashier's check with extra money attached to it for their "private shipper". It was so obvious it was a scam of some sort, and their e-mail oozed with creepy energy. An immediate alert to Etsy administrators was handled swiftly by Jim, who removed this person(s) from Etsy's site. Thanks for this informative article, and to everyone who's left comments and more valuable information...with awareness, we can all help to keep our Etsy sites safe from fraud.

2nuts

It's always sad to hear about people taking advantege of other peoples good nature.
Do we all need to become cynical och suspicious about everyone and everything.....I hope not.
Thanks for the info.

monkeyandsquirrel

thanks for the heads up etsy! what lame-o's!

tootsytwo

Thanks for the information. So worth passing along.

SeptemberStars

I had never heard of this one.. Thank you for bringing it to our attention!

Mimiandlola

Thanks for the info! What a creepy mug shot!

bklynstitch

That's so awful. Thanks for the heads up!

GemsByJoy

Thanks for this. We just experienced quite a lot of this type of thing on craigslist trying to sell our car...yuck!

freakylittlethings

This is awful and happened to someone in my doll group recently, but thankfully she got suspicious. There's some creepy people out there!

HendersonArt

Yes, I had one of these just the other week. They actually sent me two emails, I suppose because I have two "higher-priced" paintings for sale! By the time I saw the mail and tried to look at the profile, Etsy had already erased their account. Yay, Etsy! And thanks for putting the word out there for people who might not realise...

BlueberryCream

Great article! Sick and tired of all the scam artists! I accept nothing but paypal!

OneClayBead

Thanks for this info, and also thanks to others who have shared their own stories. Good to know about all this!

mazedasastoat

I have an email account set up ONLY for online selling & it's odd, but I only ever seem to get these scam emails in THAT inbox! I also will only communicate with fellow Etsians through Etsy convos, which I explain to anyone wanting my email address. I stopped using eBay about a year ago (for various reasons) & this ntype of scam was rife there. I've noticed the scammers popping up in the forums with adverts for rip-off websites seling fake merchandise & it's really sad to think that they've infiltrated such a great community.

I can only repeat the advice above... if in doubt about ANY official looking emails from any companies such as banks, PapPal, even Etsy itself, ALWAYS check with the company concerned. You're not causing a nuisance by doing so & no one will think you're being paranoid as all these reputable conpanies WANT genuine users to be safe.

happywhosits

What is comment above? AHHHHHHH!

Thank you, Etsy, for writing this article. I have so many forum threads about this problem, and am still amazed at the number of sellers who have been duped.That old adage "If it looks too godd to be believed, it probably is" is so true!.

Eileen

ChloesRuffleButt

My friend almost fell for this scam when trying to find a roommate. It makes me so mad! Thanks for kepping everyone informed Etsy. You are the BEST!

FruitionJewelry

Thanks Etsy for the warning and plan of action.

candythomasgourdart

I can't believe this article came out today!!!This just happened to me!I have spent the last week and a half dealing with this and just found out right before I read this article that the check was fraudulant.It was with an "Etsy" seller,monilinda3.Of course her shop is gone now,and I have to pay a $5 bank fee,but you know what,the lesson I have learned is well worth five bucks,thank goodness that is all I'm out.

Thank you so much Etsy for looking out for us,I will be sending you info at the abuse sight soon.All of my fellow sellers,please be careful.We have to help protect each other.

Iammie

Thanks for info.

LovMely

Thank you for the heads up Etsy. My folks had this same problem. I thankfully have not and am so happy that i am aware of it. I will spread the word on my blog too.

ThimbleNest

Thanks for the info, and all those who have shared their experiences as well.

VixVintage

Thank-you and the picks are funny too!

VixVintage

but what the heck is all that stuff from nagai?

ravenmaid

good to know

DalkullanJewelry

Thanks for the warning Etsy! Enjoyed the finds, too, especially the Online Fraud by ivers and the Criminal Cat t-shirt.

YellowViolet

I've been reading about the "private shipper" scam in the forums. These people are lower than dirt and I hope the karma police - as well as the real police - catch up with them!

Anyhow, I love the bit of humor you interjected with the related items.

TheMysticCircleArt

Thanks for this article.
It seemed to have opened alot of peoples eyes.
It's such a shame we have to deal with crap like this.
You really can not Trust anyone now a days-It's sad.
We need more articles like this with great info to help each other.Thanks & everyone be safe.

sewlola

Very useful info. Thanks for sharing it!

tashascreations

Good information!

foxtrailgeneralstore

This happened to a friend of mine last year, but not through Etsy. I think it's unfortunately a common internet scheme!

Art2ArtColorado

Thank you, Etsy!

RomanceCatsAndWhimsy

Thank you so much for this article. Excellent and informative.

LustreBeads

Thankyou for highlighting this. This kind of scam seems ever more prevalent as etsy and the internet in general expands.

I love ivers' online frauds :)

bytheway

Thanks for getting the word out!

smilingbluedog

Thanks for the warning.
I find it amazing how creative and
innovative people are, especially here on Etsy.
I tend to forget that there's also some deceitful
parasites out there, that use their "talents" in such
bad karmic ways.
Hope it comes back to them in triplicate.

smilingbluedog

Just to clarify...
"Out there", I don't mean just Etsy, I mean world-wide.

unmasked

This is important information and reminds me that I must be vigilant in anticipating (or spotting) the next scam!....and you know there will be others.

prendasbyenid

Super, super useful information!!! Thanks a Lot!!!

ANANEE

thanks for the info!!

LucidDreamers

thanks for the info. I got an inquiry from a shaquiile oniel to e-mail them and I went back to etsy to convo. I also was suspicious of the convo that was sent because spelling and grammar was really bad. I referred it to abuse@etsy.com

underoakstudios

Thanks! Keep doing articles about this. I hate that people try to do this. Judging from the multiple confused threads in the forums there are lots of people who are unawair of scams like this. I hate to think of how many people get conned and then never say anything.

HandmadeByStella

I have run into this issue many times myself. Every so often I receive emails, and odd request from our advertising at work and on craig's list, but when I started receiving those messages no etsy also, I was taken a bit by surprise; only because I think etsy does an excellent job of protecting privacy and information and filtering out any schemes or fraud. I guess there is no safe place after all. Yes, there are many ways to spot those types of convos & emails, and the first signal is bad spelling and gramar; the other thing is they always pick the most expensive item in the shop and ask all sorts of weird information about paying with certified funds and no shipping required.......its a mess, just be alert at all times!

mytangerinedream

I have heard of this forgery that is why I choose paypal only! I do not have shipping fees they are included in the price of my items 4 sale. Thank you for letting the community know about this fowl play.

2RavenChicks

Thanks for putting this out there Etsy - it's always good to be forewarned. The scammers are getting more clever and devious.

ShesaGem

I cannot stand people that abuse this site or people that have to ruin it for those who have to try hard to get where they are just for some SHMUCK to take it all away in a MINUTE. ughhhhhh!!

violavintage

This happened to my sister (pinkflapjacks) but fortunately she hadn't sent anything out.
They even sent the fake check!!

piecedbycherie

I just got one of these 'buyers' yesterday and she wanted me to send shipping fees after the transaction....I dont send people money, I send product after they send me money...I will only use PayPal..

sundarose

Thank you!

gretchenmatta

I received a convo from one of these scumbags yesterday and forwarded it onto abuse@etsy.com and they took care of it fast! Thank you etsy.
Please be aware of these frauds, this one claimed they were a hard working mother of 2, but ALL details were very suspicious! A similar email was also sent to my website just hours before.
Don't let the slime fool you and insult the REAL hard working mothers here on etsy!

bellachicdesigns

indeed very helpful, thanks !

UnkamenSupplies

Thanks so much! Off to tweet this so others can find out too!

HelloVictory

I'm so glad I read this a few days ago. I just now got a "convo" from a person doing this. Wanting my most expensive item but only can pay with cashiers check blah blah blah....Thanks Etsy for keeping us informed!!

gemmokarati

We are actually going through this right now. We are new here so we decided to give it a try anyway, but luckily I was never convinced and this article was the cherry on top. Thank you so much for the actual info! Be careful everyone - if it sounds too good to be true...it probably is!!

Mosaickid

I was contacted today with a fishy sounding convo, and reported it to abuse@etsy.com. I received a quick response and the matter was taken care of.
Thanks so much!
Mosaickid

AudreyArtStar

oh my!
this article was soooo helpful and right at the last moment!
I almost went through with a transaction deal that matched the details of this article, but something in my gut didn't feel right, so I searched around for seller tips and found this article!! I'm so happy and now I feel right about ignoring and ditching that deal!!

brendabays

Very relevant information. Everyone take heed!

mfeganart

Thank you for responding so quickly. They are easy to spot and if I am not sure I just say I only do paypal.

kissthepotter

Be careful of those scaming scumbags! I also recieved a convo from someone sounding very fishy and also reported them. They picked the most expensive item from my shop and I guess they tried to appeal to greed, but it was one of those "I'll pay you a chashiers check for more and you give me some money back". Here is a copy of the convo that they sent to me.

I am interested in the immediate purchase of your item and will be make payment via cashier check/money order, my private
shipping company will handle the shipping, but before payment will be made i need to be sure of who i am dealing with if you are
going to be honest and sincere throughout the transaction. A certified cashiers check is cash-able the same day,there is going to
be an excess fund on the check ,the excess fund is meant for the private shipping company who will come to your place for pick
up of the item, so shipping is not a problem,will you be able to transfer the excess fund to the shipping company the same day
you receive the check?. check would be sent to you so when you get payment you can easily cash it at any cashing point near you
or deposit in your bank. You'll be sending excess fund to my shipper , which would be meant for shipping arrangement.if you
agree, signify your interest by forwarding to me your Final Asking Price, Full Name & Contact Address and Tel # also i will
want you to email to my private email address nurenikeshington [!at] yahoo.com because i had some bad network with my acct in
Etsy.com.So plz kindly email me to my email address I await your response soonest.
Best and kind regards,

TrinketTrove

Thanks for sharing this information. Really appreciate it. Thank you kissthepotter for posting the convo. Now I can watch out for scammers!