How to Spot a Scam on Etsy: 10 Tips – MakeUseOf

Etsy is a popular website that allows anyone to sell handmade products. It’s popular with sellers because it’s cheaper than setting up their own website, and it’s popular with consumers because you can find unique products unavailable anywhere else.

Etsy has a good reputation because most of the products sold there are genuine. If you use the platform, however, it’s important to understand that scammers are also very much active on there. They don’t make handmade products and instead aim to profit from dishonesty.

Here’s how to use Etsy without being the victim of a scam.

1. Only Shop on External Sites if You Trust the Seller

Many sellers on Etsy ask customers to visit their websites. There isn’t necessarily anything suspicious about this. Etsy charges a premium for selling on their platform and many sellers simply want to save money on fees. Opting to buy from an external website, however, introduces significant risk because you don’t benefit from Etsy’s payment protection.

Unless you trust the seller, you should only make purchases directly on the platform.

2. Research External Sites Carefully

Assuming you trust a seller, and you’d like to buy from their website instead, there are various steps that you can take to avoid scams.

Look at the URL: Reputable websites all use SSL certificates. An SSL certificate ^[1] indicates that data sent via a website is encrypted and that your payment details are therefore harder to steal. SSL certificates are displayed using a lock symbol to the left of the website address.
Search the name of the store: Prior to purchasing anything on an external website, always research the website’s name. A quick Google search might show that it has a history of scams. And if there’s no mention of it on Google, this is suspicious.
Look for scam-like behavior: If an external website has overly cheap products, spelling mistakes, or strange payment methods, the website should not be used.

3. Always Pay Using a Credit Card

Etsy accepts a wide variety of payment methods, but credit cards are usually the safest option. Credit card providers offer the best fraud protection and will usually refund your money entirely if you are the victim of a scam. Etsy also offers payment protection but because scammers can be both buyers and sellers, Etsy doesn’t automatically side with the buyer.

4. Don’t Pay Outside of the Site

Some sellers on Etsy will ask that you pay them outside the platform after you make a purchase. They might ask you to perform a bank transfer or use a gift card. Any seller that makes this request should be avoided. Off platform payments do allow sellers to save money on fees, but they also prevent buyers from obtaining refunds. They are therefore ideal for scammers.

5. Don’t Believe Provided Information

Etsy allows you to filter sellers based on their location and whether or not their items are handmade. This would be a useful way to avoid scams because most low quality products on Etsy are mass-produced and often sold from Asia. Unfortunately, Etsy allows sellers to fill out their profiles with any information they want, so anything written on a profile is potentially inaccurate.

6. Don’t Provide Personal Information

Some dishonest Etsy users aim to profit from sending phishing emails. This might happen after you attempt to make a purchase or ask a question. A phishing email may provide an apparent link to Etsy but when you click on it, you are actually taken to a phishing website ^[3] which steals your Etsy account details.

Some phishing emails also contain requests for personal information which can facilitate other scams. If an Etsy seller sends you an email, always read it carefully, don’t click on any links, and don’t provide any personal information.

7. Do a Reverse Image Search

If an Etsy seller wants to sell an item that they don’t own, they will often steal an image from somebody else. Prior to purchasing anything on the platform, it’s worth doing a reverse image search ^[4]. If the image belongs to somebody else, the seller should obviously not be trusted. You’re unlikely to actually receive the item at any rate.

8. Don’t Buy Anything That’s Under Priced

Many items on Etsy are very good value but if you see something that’s too cheap, it’s usually a scam. Making handmade goods is a time-intensive process and honest sellers charge accordingly. To avoid potential scams, try to figure out what other sellers are selling similar items for. Don’t purchase from a less reputable source solely because of the price.

9. Read Customer Reviews

Prior to purchasing anything on Etsy, always read reviews from previous customers. A lack of reviews is a valid reason for purchasing elsewhere.

It’s very easy to set up a profile on Etsy and start selling; it’s difficult to build a reputation and a long line of happy customers. New sellers aren’t necessarily scams but unfortunately, they should usually be avoided.

Reputable sellers on Etsy tend to sell on multiple platforms and have an active social media presence. Scammers usually skip social media because it takes so long to build an audience. A strong social media presence is therefore an indicator that a seller is genuine and worth purchasing from. You should specifically look for sellers who respond to customer questions and approach their business as a hobby (at least when it comes to Etsy).

Etsy Is a Reputable Platform but Buyers Need to Pay Attention

Etsy is a popular platform and offers a selection of products that you won’t find anywhere else. The presence of scams is obviously problematic, but it is possible to avoid them provided you are careful both who you shop from and how you pay.

The site offers payment protection, but it’s important not to overestimate it. Etsy’s payment protection doesn’t always provide refunds and is completely ineffective if you pay off platform.

You need to take additional steps to keep yourself safe from scammers. Don’t buy away from the platform, don’t buy anything which is suspiciously cheap, and limit yourself to sellers with good reputations.

References

^{^} An SSL certificate (www.makeuseof.com)
^{^} Flickr (www.flickr.com)
^{^} a phishing website (www.makeuseof.com)
^{^} reverse image search (www.makeuseof.com)