Etsy Scammer: Everything You Need Know

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Updated on August 21, 2023

Etsy scams are becoming more common, making legitimate buyers and sellers weary before concluding any transaction. But it doesn’t need to be. Read on to know how to identify an Etsy scammer and more.

An Etsy scammer is an individual (or) group that uses the Etsy platform to swindle unsuspecting sellers or buyers. Scam sellers usually swindle buyers of money while scam buyers dupe legitimate sellers of listed items.  

Vital information is needed to identify a scam on Etsy and avoid being defrauded. 

That’s why this guide provides details on everything you need to know about an Etsy scammer. Taking cues from the information this guide provides makes it easy to avoid Etsy frauds and trade without losses. 

Everything to Know about an Etsy Scammer TipsForEfficiency

Etsy Scammer: Is it Possible to Get Scammed on Etsy?

Yes, it is possible to fall for scams on Etsy. And it’s possible that buyers and sellers may be scammers too, so you must be careful. 

Scam buyers may offer to buy high-value items from sellers with little experience or low sales on Etsy. In many cases, these buyers will build trust in their seller with several purchases before pulling off a scam. 

Scam buyers may request massive orders of a seller’s high-value items without paying fully. Such scams can be quite difficult to reverse, especially when the seller accepts a payment method not supported on Etsy. 

How Do You Know Whether an Etsy Seller is Legit?

A legitimate seller on Etsy isn’t difficult to find, especially when you know what to look out for. Buyers should check the product descriptions of sellers’ listed items to see if there are any odd phrases or formatting appear.

Also, buyers should compare listed prices of items an Etsy seller offers to avoid being ripped off. An Etsy scammer could list knockoffs of an actual product for way less than its value to dupe unsuspecting buyers. 

You also need to look at customer reviews sometimes to know what former buyers think about a seller. Buyers can also look at a seller’s “About” section to get more information about their store. 

A legit seller should have a verifiable online presence outside Etsy, too. Sellers should have a complete Facebook profile, website, or other means of contact on their store’s page. 

Finally, a legit seller will not have unreasonable return and cancellation policies in place. Any seller in a hurry to keep your money after offering poor service is probably a scammer.

What Do I Do If I Get Scammed on Etsy?

Etsy users that fall for scams can use three methods to retrieve their funds. The first step is to request a refund from sellers that refuse to send you items you’ve already paid for. 

Some scam sellers may hold onto a buyer’s funds without releasing any product. In other cases, scam sellers may send knockoffs of the actual product to buyers. 

Contact a scam seller and request your funds. If the seller refuses to oblige, you can go ahead to the second step. 

Etsy has protections in place for sellers and buyers who use the payment platforms it backs. You can contact Etsy Help and lay out your complaint.

Contact with Etsy Help will yield results when you have clear information about your transaction with a scam seller. So, it’s a wise choice to keep vital info about every purchase until you receive it and accept its contents. 

Sometimes, contacting Etsy Help may not favor some buyers, especially if the seller has shipped items already. But there’s a last resort to consider if you know you’ve been scammed. 

If you use bank transfers or your credit card for payments on Etsy, you can contact them for a solution. Some banks and credit card companies offer reversals after payment has been made to a receiver. 

However, it’s smarter to tread with caution and only buy from sellers proven to be trustworthy. It’s more convenient to avoid being scammed than to try getting your money back.   

Does Etsy Refund You if Scammed?

Etsy has a case system to resolve disputes if a non-delivery happens or when items are not as described. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, Etsy will guarantee refunds through your payment method or in Etsy Credits. 

Do Scam Websites Illegally Feature Items on Etsy?

Several scam websites can feature items listed on Etsy as their product. Many people fall for these scams due to the low prices offered for such items. 

Buyers are advised to purchase items from legitimate Etsy sellers and avoid knockoffs or flat-out scams. 

Can Etsy Have Fake Accounts? 

Some Etsy users may set up fake accounts to trick buyers or sellers of their money or items. Unscrupulous sellers can also create fake Etsy accounts to inflate their actual numbers.

Etsy currently has a strict removal policy against accounts proven to be fake. However, some accounts still slip through checks, but may be discovered later on.

Conclusion: Avoiding an Etsy Scammer

Trading cash for items on Etsy without being scammed is possible, and many users aren’t fraudulent. But you must be on the lookout for scams identified in this guide, just to be safe. 

And since Etsy offers protections for users on their platform, you may have little to worry about in the end.