Etsy is a popular website that allows anyone to sell handmade products. It’s popular with sellers because it’s cheaper than setting up your own website, and it’s popular with consumers because you can find unique products that aren’t available anywhere else.
Etsy has a good reputation because most of the products sold there are genuine. However, if you use the platform, it is important to understand that scammers are very active there as well. They do not make handmade products and instead seek to profit from dishonesty.
Here’s how to use Etsy without falling victim to a scam.
1. Only buy from external sites if you trust the seller
Many Etsy sellers ask customers to visit their websites. There’s not necessarily anything suspicious about this. Etsy charges a premium to sell on their platform, and many sellers simply want to save money on fees. However, choosing to purchase from an external website presents significant risk because you do not benefit from Etsy’s payment protection.
Unless you trust the seller, you should only make purchases directly on the platform.
2. Carefully research external sites
Assuming you trust a seller and want to buy from their website, there are several steps you can take to avoid scams.
- Look at the URL: All reputable websites use SSL certificates. An SSL certificate indicates that data sent through a website is encrypted, making your payment details more difficult to steal. SSL certificates are shown with a lock symbol to the left of the website address.
- Find the name of the store: Before buying anything from an external website, always research the name of the website. A quick Google search might show you have a history of scams. And if it is not mentioned in Google, this is suspicious.
- Look for scam-like behavior: If an external website has too cheap products, misspellings or strange payment methods, the website should not be used.
3. Always pay with a credit card
Etsy accepts a wide variety of payment methods, but credit cards are often the safest option. Credit card providers offer the best protection against fraud and will usually refund your money in full if you fall victim to 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 offsite
Some sellers on Etsy will ask you to pay them off the platform after you make a purchase. They may ask you to make a bank transfer or use a gift card. Any vendor making this request should be avoided. Off-platform payments allow sellers to save money on fees, but also prevent buyers from getting refunds. Therefore, they are ideal for scammers.
5. Do not believe the information provided
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 in a profile is potentially inaccurate.
6. Do not provide personal information
Some dishonest Etsy users claim to profit by sending phishing emails. This can happen after trying to make a purchase or asking a question. A phishing email may provide an apparent link to Etsy, but when you click on it, it actually takes you to a phishing website that steals your Etsy account details.
Some phishing emails also contain requests for personal information that can facilitate other scams. If an Etsy seller sends you an email, always read it carefully, don’t click any links, and don’t provide any personal information.
7. Do a reverse image search
If an Etsy seller wants to sell an item they don’t own, they will often steal someone else’s image. Before buying anything on the platform, it is worth doing a reverse image search. If the image belongs to someone else, the seller is obviously not to be trusted. It is unlikely that you will receive the item anyway.
8. Do not buy anything that is below the price
Many items on Etsy are a very good value, but if you see something that’s too cheap, it’s usually a scam. Making handmade products is a time consuming process and honest sellers charge accordingly. To avoid potential scams, try to find out why other sellers are selling similar items. Don’t buy from a less reputable source solely on price.
9. Read Customer Reviews
Before buying anything on Etsy, always read reviews from previous customers. Lack of reviews is a valid reason to shop elsewhere.
It’s very easy to set up an Etsy profile and start selling; it’s hard to build a reputation and a long list of satisfied customers. New sellers are not necessarily scams, but unfortunately they should generally be avoided.
Trusted sellers on Etsy tend to sell on multiple platforms and have an active presence on social media. Scammers typically skip social media because it takes a long time to build an audience. Therefore, a strong social media presence is an indicator that a seller is genuine and worth buying from. You should specifically look for sellers who answer customer questions and approach their business like a hobby (at least when it comes to Etsy).
Etsy is a trusted platform, but buyers should 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 as long as you are careful who you buy from and how you pay.
The site offers payment protection, but it is important not to overestimate it. Etsy’s payment protection doesn’t always provide refunds and is completely ineffective if you pay the platform.
You should take extra steps to keep yourself safe from scammers. Don’t buy off the shelf, don’t buy anything suspiciously cheap, and stick to reputable sellers.