I am severely unemployed. Since August 2023 when I cashed my last cheque from the Cambridge Times, my dream job from which I was laid off (rest in peace, you dying horse, you, print media), I have been freelancing and trying to find more permanent employment. To no avail. And many a-no. Some of which have been on weekends? Please don't work on weekends, nor send rejections during them, you monster(s).
Anyhow, you came to read about scamming not my sad life, but as it happens, it turns out you get to know about both! What a bargain! Most recently, I re-started my painting, and a friend recommended I sign up for Etsy. An exciting moment that according to the Waterloo Regional Police constable with whom I filed a police report is often targeted by criminals. Oh, good!
How I got scammed on Etsy
When I was setting up my Etsy account, I was unaware that it will likely take one or two days for your shop to come out of vacation or be deemed as selling. So when I posted my first listing, and it seemed like I was not being viewed, and my shop was put on pause, I got an email from what appeared to be Etsy support. Good timing! I thought, and so did the scammers.
But as Allister, the short spoken Etsy fella who replied to my bewildered email, cautioned, this was most definitely not Etsy.
How can you tell it is not Etsy and rather a scam?
Well, one of the foolproof ways to tell is to head over to your PC. The Etsy interface drastically differs on your phone. In your mobile, all inbox messages are lumped together. In your PC, you'll see there is even a folder that says "From Etsy."
Would this have been useful to know when I was scammed? Yes. Would a change to the interface make it easier for mobile users not to get scammed? Most certainly.
But as Allister pointed out there is not much Etsy can do but stand back and watch horrified. I sure did too!
I mean they could modify their interface or send more detailed instructions on setting up shops that warn of potential scams, but that would be thinking of the customer, and that's not at all what business is about. Goodness, how little profit that would make Etsy! The capitalist horror!
The other way you can tell is that as Allister mentioned Etsy will never redirect you to another site. This is what happened to me. The Etsy email I got through the Etsy inbox contained a QR code. Once accessed, this QR code took me to an interface that looked like a dialogue box. You know, like it was Etsy support.
Well I definitely thought so, and I got scammed hard. The way that Constable Jansen from the Waterloo Regional Police says these scammers managed to time things so perfectly is because they set up alerts to browse for folks that have just recently put up their first listing.
This is a type of fraud that hinders on serendipity. In other words, scammers are looking to get lucky off some dumbass (yours truly) by timing circumstances. Another great example are CRA or Tax filing scams that happen around this time of year.
Since taxes are due end of April, most people are panicking to get them done in time in Canada. So getting a call about missing taxes or missing information would tap very hard into the amygdala of a desperate person. Logic goes out the window: here are my details!
Ok So I got scammed on Etsy, what did they access?
My SIN, my bank account (they cleaned out my Savings), my driver's license and, I seem to be forgetting something. Oh that's right! My dignity.
They also had my phone number so I decided to change it, although in this day and age, I don't know if it makes much of a difference that I did. Digital world means digital problems (I sang this in my head).
After being scammed on Etsy, what did I do, and if I get scammed what should I do?
This applies only if you live in Canada, but I suspect you should follow similar steps in other countries.
Practice denial
The first thing you're gonna wanna do is practice denial. This is not gonna help you at all. While you're at it, practice all stages of grief: anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Look at your bank account, and angrily shout at it, "why did Etsy need to withdraw $1,800 CAD?!" (Does it make you sadder that those were all my savings? Yay!). Finally, accept it by following these additional steps below.
Contact your financial institution
This is probably the first people you need to contact so you may cancel your credit card and they may freeze your account so the scammers don't continue withdrawing. Jokes on them! There was nothing else to withdraw. But my confidence.
Contact Etsy
Send an email to Etsy and ask them what's happening. When Allister replies telling it's not Etsy shout back (without caps) as you type, "what are you talking about?" then sob into your hands.
File a Police Report
Go to the police and file a police report. Bring your dad with you who has volunteered to come and will remind you about what a mistake you've done. Make sure not to forget someone to flare up your shame! Otherwise, you're not doing this right.
You'll likely have to file the report online, or via telephone. And yes, you will have to relive this whole experience, and realize how dumb you were. But don't worry if you bring a family member (bonus points if they're an immigrant parent), you'll have the whole guilt-ridden experience well rehearsed.
The police will also recommend that you talk with Etsy, because as Constable Jansen put it, "Etsy will want to know that this happening on their platform." You angel, you, Constable Jansen.
Make sure you either get a copy of the police report, or get a number associated with the police report, the name of the police offer, and their badge number. This information may be required for the subsequent steps. But likely only the police report or its number.
Practice Cancel Culture on your Identification
If you've not already done so, you may want to change your account numbers, if possible, your PINs, and get new debit and credit cards.
In Canada, you should also report the potential identity theft to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, who will also provide advice and additional help. You can call them via 1-888-495-8501 or visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
I went to get my government ID's reissued but lo-and-behold, this is not possible! Well, if it is a passport, you may. But as for a driver's license in Ontario, the number stays the same for life, so does your SIN. So as a good friend taught me in grad school, "sucks to suck!"
But wait, if you SIN and driver's license does not change? What does that mean?
Your driver's license number stays the same, but the serial number at the back that identifies it as your actual license changes with each reissue. Luckily, I did not take a picture of the back of the license, so that means I just continue to live in fear.
Likewise, your social insurance number will remain the same all of your life. The thing that you can do to protect yourself from someone filing taxes in your name or applying for other documents, is to place an alert on your credit file. See next steps.
Contact Equifax and TransUnion Credit Reporting Agencies
There are two main credit reporting agencies in Canada, and they are known as Equifax and TransUnion. You will need to contact both agencies to place an alert on your credit file. You can contact them at 1-800-465-7166 or equifax.ca, and 1-800-663-9980 or transunion.ca.
I did not need legal advice, but if you do, here's Pro Bono Ontario’s help line at 1-855-255-7256. You can also visit legalaid.on.ca or call 1-800-668-8258 or TTY 711.
So now what, what will I do with my Etsy shop after being scammed so hard?
Nothing, I am still staying...strong. I also really like the idea of an Etsy store. I love seeing my work there, and imagine what potential buyers' homes might look like with my artwork in them. Thanks, Canva for that!
But will I forgive Etsy? Never. They should really be doing a better job of notifying people and understanding how come it is so easy to get scammed on their platform. This is also not the only type of fraud that goes on Etsy either.
Sometimes, people copy others' artwork and then mass produce it at cheaper prices. It makes me sad that the people that are being targeted are artists, that we are vulnerable especially when we already earn so little money most of the time.
I would like to hope for a better world but that's not gonna happen, so stay tuned for my next article: "How to Scam People on Etsy." Hey, we all gotta make money.