I've been an Etsy user for about a year now, and I've just had my first interaction with a scammer! Oh what fun! Actually, it made me feel really gross. This person, "Amber", sent me an Etsy note regarding one of my original paintings I had for sale. She asked me to send her an email with my private email address stating how much I would be willing to sell the piece for. I told her, and this is what I got in response:
Hello,
I have a client that just place a look on your item and i am interested in immediate purchase of this item,but before i proceed on this transaction i will like to ask some question as follow.
1.Do you accept a (Certified Check ) as mode of payment.
2.What is the final asking price you can go at last.
3. Do you have more pictures of this item.....if yes send them to me.
4.. You are to send your NAME,ADDRESS,TEL # to mail out the payment tomorrow.
5.Will you let our shipping company to come to you house for the pick up of the item cos we don't want you to worry yourself about the shipping of the item.
6.Will you be able to help us send shipping fees to the shipping company via western union money transfer same day you receive and cash the check for the arrangement of the home pick up from your house down to my client.
Regards
I have a client that just place a look on your item and i am interested in immediate purchase of this item,but before i proceed on this transaction i will like to ask some question as follow.
1.Do you accept a (Certified Check ) as mode of payment.
2.What is the final asking price you can go at last.
3. Do you have more pictures of this item.....if yes send them to me.
4.. You are to send your NAME,ADDRESS,TEL # to mail out the payment tomorrow.
5.Will you let our shipping company to come to you house for the pick up of the item cos we don't want you to worry yourself about the shipping of the item.
6.Will you be able to help us send shipping fees to the shipping company via western union money transfer same day you receive and cash the check for the arrangement of the home pick up from your house down to my client.
Regards
RED FLAG. At first I thought it was a little strange that they would send a shipping company to pick up the painting, and then I found it even stranger that they would make me pay for the shipping when they coudl easily deduct the shipping cost from the check they'd send me. THEN I saw "Western Union", and as any avid Craigslister would know,
"Avoid scams and fraud by dealing locally! Beware any deal involving Western Union, Moneygram, wire transfer, cashier check, money order, shipping, escrow, or any promise of transaction protection/certification/guarantee. More info".
This site has a copy of an email from a scammer that is pretty much spot on to the one I recieved from good ol "Amber".
Scamscamscamscamscam. Also, if you cash one of their fake checks, sometimes the bank will make you pay for it. What a dirty, dirty business.
I've had my occasional run-in with scammers on craigslist, but this one hit too close to home. Because they were trying to scam me for MY ART. My babies! The things I create and am attached to! And sometimes it's hard to put a price on my work, which I'm sure many artists can relate to, and for a scammer to strip it of even THAT? DIRTY.
I've had my occasional run-in with scammers on craigslist, but this one hit too close to home. Because they were trying to scam me for MY ART. My babies! The things I create and am attached to! And sometimes it's hard to put a price on my work, which I'm sure many artists can relate to, and for a scammer to strip it of even THAT? DIRTY.
Anyway, I just want you all to be safe. I know there are hundreds of websites that have the same information that i'm posting, but I had to let you know. Yuckyuckyuckyucky
Anyway. Flowers n stuff. They always make me feel better.
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9 comments:
It's really a shame that these things continue to happen. And it feels all the more hurtful in etsy - maybe because it feels a little bit of a refuge for us creative types? It just reminds us to be wary wherever we are.
oh gosh! that is terrible.
thank you so much for sharing. lucky you picked it up and it didn't get any further!
Renee xx
can i get that girl from the 14 bus to punch her in the nose? (or him, for all we know)
ugh. that really, REALLY just sucks :(
YES. it does suck. At least they didn't fool me. Thank goodness for Google. :p
you were responsible for getting us out of that paris apartment situation too! you're very alert and vigilant. where would i be without you? oh, i know: 'oh, that's interesting.. all three people are missionaries from france who are living in africa spreading the word of god and need us to send them lots of large checks and then they'll send us the key to their apartment in france!' <3
Michael Scott: "You know what Toby, when the son of the deposed king of Nigeria emails you directly, asking for help, you help! His father ran the freaking country! Okay?"
hahaha
Wow, the nerve of some people! That's horrible somebody tried to scam you like that. Glad to hear they didn't succeed.
I remember you telling me about this after the first email. I'm so glad you were able to pick up the red flags. I hope there's a way to report this to etsy--not that it would necessarily do anything, but it might make you feel better.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog, and thank you so much for commenting!
♥,
Charmaine