How Common Are Scam Messages on Etsy? (A Reality Check for New Sellers)
You launch your Etsy shop. You made your banner, wrote a charming bio, and uploaded your handcrafted products with love. Then… ping! Your first message. Excitement rushes in. Could it be a sale?
No. It’s a scam.
Thousands of Etsy sellers, especially new ones, face this same letdown. Scam messages aren’t just an occasional nuisance anymore, they’re a full-blown epidemic.
But how common are these scam messages really? Why are they targeting you? And what can you do to stop them?
You’re Not Being Paranoid
Some sellers receive three, five, even ten scam messages within days of opening their shop. That’s not just bad luck, it’s a pattern.
Data from community forums and independent seller guides all point to one truth: scam messages are rampant on Etsy. Especially when you're new, scammers see your shop as low-hanging fruit.
Because new sellers are excited. They’re eager to respond. They might not know what a legitimate message looks like yet.
That’s exactly what scammers are banking on.
Why New Sellers Are Prime Targets
Think about it from the scammer's perspective.
They don’t want to waste time messaging seasoned sellers who know the ropes. They’re after fresh accounts with no reviews, people who haven’t been burned yet.
These bad actors know you're hopeful. That you might overlook red flags just to land a sale. That you share an email address, click a strange link, or agree to an odd request just to please a “customer.”
And most Etsy shops don’t launch with a flood of real buyers. That makes a scam message feel like a lifeline.
It isn’t.
The Most Common Scam Tactics (And How to Spot Them)
So what do these scam messages actually look like?
They usually fall into a few predictable patterns. If you see these, run — or better yet, report.
1. “Can I email you directly?”
Translation: “Let me get you off Etsy’s platform where I can scam you without consequences.”
Legit buyers don’t ask for your email. Everything they need is already on Etsy.
2. “I need this urgently for my sister’s wedding. Can you handle that?”
Urgency is the scammer’s best friend. It makes you act fast and think less. If someone’s pushing too hard, pause. Ask yourself: Does this sound real? Or just really suspicious?
3. QR codes and shady links
These often lead to phishing sites that steal your info or infect your device. Never click a link unless it’s hosted on Etsy’s own domain. And Etsy will never ask you to scan a QR code. Ever.
4. “Hello dear…”
Weird phrasing, poor grammar, and awkward formatting aren’t just annoying. They’re often your first clue.
These aren’t from real buyers. They’re from bots, scammers overseas, or spam farms trying to bait you.
The Statistics Nobody Talks About
Etsy hasn’t published official numbers on scam message volume.
But you can piece the picture together from community forums:
In active seller threads, more than half of new sellers mention getting scam messages within their first week.
Some report that 70–80% of their early inquiries were scams.
Entire Reddit threads are dedicated to scam message screenshots, and they get updated daily.
That means it’s not if you’ll get a scam message as a new seller — it’s when.
Is Etsy Doing Anything About This?
Yes, but it's not enough.
Etsy does flag suspicious messages. It hides known scam attempts and warns you if a buyer tries to take the conversation off-platform.
You’ll sometimes see a yellow warning banner that says, “This user has been flagged for suspicious activity.”
But Etsy’s filters don’t catch everything. Scammers are evolving. And they’re getting smarter.
So while Etsy’s spam tools help, your vigilance is still your best defense.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Wasting Time
Scam messages don’t just clog your inbox. They mess with your momentum.
You spend time crafting replies, only to realize it was fake. You get excited, then disappointed. Again and again.
That rollercoaster can burn you out fast.
Even worse? Scam messages create distrust. You start second-guessing every real buyer inquiry. That hesitation could cost you real sales.
And that’s exactly what scammers want. They want your energy depleted and your guard down.
The Real Cost of Getting Scammed
What happens if you fall for one of these messages?
You might expose your email to a phishing attack.
You might hand over personal information that gets used in identity fraud.
You could get tricked into sending free products or fake “refunds.”
You might lose access to your Etsy shop entirely if the scam compromises your login.
That’s not paranoia. These things happen — every week — to real sellers. And most of them never thought it would happen to them.
So What Can You Actually Do?
Here’s what experienced sellers wish they knew on Day One:
1. Never take the conversation off Etsy.
If someone asks for your email, stop right there. That’s a hard no.
2. Always check for the “From Etsy” badge.
If a message looks sketchy and it doesn’t have that verified badge, trust your gut.
3. Report every scam.
Mark it as spam. Flag it. Block the sender. The more sellers report, the better Etsy’s filters become.
4. Know the patterns.
Scammers recycle scripts. Once you know their tricks, you’ll spot them faster.
5. Don’t let scam fatigue keep you from selling.
The biggest danger? Letting scam messages suck your energy so much that you stop promoting your shop.
You didn’t start selling on Etsy just to defend your inbox. But staying informed is part of the gig, especially at the beginning.
Scams won’t stop. But they won’t win either, not if you’re ready.
There’s a strange irony here: the very fact that you’re getting scam messages means you’re on the map. Your shop is visible. You’re doing something right.
So don’t stop. Stay alert, stay smart, and keep going.
Because while scam messages are common, so are success stories, and yours is just getting started.