Etsy Scams

Etsy has become a popular marketplace for selling handmade crafts and other products. But there’s more to the site than meets the eye. Here are seven scams that you may be unaware of:

Scam #1: Phishing

Phishing is a form of identity theft that uses email, text message and social media to trick people into disclosing their personal information. It can happen when someone receives an email from a company they’re familiar with that looks like it comes from the person who works there. The email asks them to click on the link in order for them to complete some sort of transaction or update their information with that company; however, if you do not click on this link and instead forward it onto someone else (like your boss), then you are helping phishsters steal money from unsuspecting victims!

Phishing scams are one of the most common types of cybercrimes today because they rely heavily on human error: People tend to trust emails they receive because they feel comfortable doing business with their favorite brands—and these companies know this fact well enough that many scammers will send fake messages directly through their own domains (eBay has been known as one such offender).

Scam #2: Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime, and it can happen to anyone. The most common forms of identity theft involve someone using your personal information to open credit cards or bank accounts in your name. They may also use your social security number to get health insurance or even apply for jobs.

If you suspect that someone has used your identity without permission, there are steps you can take immediately:

• Report the incident to the police and inform them what has happened so they can investigate it further if necessary (but first make sure no one else has been affected).
• Change all passwords and PIN numbers associated with any online accounts where possible; this includes e-mail addresses as well as sites like Facebook or Twitter, which might have been accessed through an account set up by another person (or group).

Scam #3: Website Cookies

Cookies are small bits of data that websites store on your computer or device to help them recognize you. They’re used to make a user’s experience more convenient and personalized, so they can remember what page you’ve visited, the browser type you’re using, things like that.

If a seller is using cookies to track customers’ behavior on their site—that’s called “cookies tracking” and it’s definitely against Etsy policy. But if they’re using cookies that don’t contain any personally identifiable information (like an email address), then there may be nothing wrong with this practice at all!

You can check whether or not your browser has been sending any kind of cookie data back to the website by looking at its privacy settings page:

• If nothing has changed since last time we checked (which should have been before clicking those buttons), then everything should still be fine! You can even switch off all browser cookies if it makes things easier for yourself in future so that no one knows who else visited their website before yours did.”

How to Avoid This Scam on Etsy

• Avoid opening suspicious emails.
• If you get an email from Etsy, check the link to see if it is real. If it isn’t, call them directly and ask them if they sent you an email.
• Make sure that all links in your Etsy account are active and working properly before making any purchases or sending money to someone else through PayPal or Venmo (the payment processor).

Scam #4: Fake Sellers

Scammers create fake profiles and use them to sell products. These scammers are often based in China, where the art of scamming is well-known. They will pretend to be a seller from the US, UK or Australia and offer products that aren’t available anywhere else on Etsy.

Instead of selling their own merchandise, these scammers argue that they have access to large quantities of counterfeit goods produced in China and other foreign countries.

Scam #5: Fake Shipping Notices

Shipping scams on Etsy are a real issue. They happen often, and they can be difficult to spot.

One way to avoid shipping scams is by looking at the seller’s feedback history and seeing if there are any complaints about their products or services. If you see a lot of negative comments, it may be worth reconsidering whether or not you want to purchase from them in the first place!

Another tip? Always check your invoice carefully before paying for something on Etsy—and always ask questions about anything that seems strange or out of place!

Scam #6: The Bait and Switch on Etsy

You may have seen the term “bait and switch” used in other contexts, but what does it mean exactly?

• Example 1: You order a product from an online store that sells handmade goods. The company promises to deliver your order within two weeks, but you don’t receive it for six months or so. When you complain about this delay, they offer another product at full price with no free shipping (or anything else). They hope that by making this offer too good to refuse and then charging only slightly more than their original sale price point, they’ll be able to keep most customers happy enough not to complain too loudly about being scammed into paying full price on something they didn’t even want in the first place!
• Example 2: A company advertises an item on Etsy as being made by them (with a picture of their logo), then charges extra fees when people go ahead and buy using Paypal instead of direct credit card payment through Etsy platform itself—and those fees are exorbitant!

Scam #7: Returns/Exchanges with a Twist

• If you’re the victim of an Etsy scammer and want to report the incident, please do so through their official website.
• To protect yourself from being scammed on Etsy, make sure that your buyer/seller rating is high enough before accepting any transactions with them. This will ensure that you don’t get stuck with a product that doesn’t match what you wanted or need.

What to do if You Get Scammed on Etsy?

If you get scammed on Etsy, here are some things to do:

• Report the scammer to Etsy.
• Report the scammer to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
• File a complaint with your local Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB will help ensure that complaints can be filed against people who have made false claims or fraudulent transactions on their website or in person at a store location.
• File a complaint with The Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC is an independent agency that protects consumers against unfair or deceptive practices by businesses they deal with, including those selling goods online through websites such as Etsy.

Conclusion

While Etsy is a great platform for selling and buying items, it’s also important to be aware of the scams that can take place on this website. From phishing scams to fake sellers, there are many ways scammers have found to try and steal your money or personal information. If you are ever unsure about an item or seller on Etsy, just ask them directly what they do or don’t offer before purchasing something from them.