On Etsy, a buyer never needs your email, your phone or a QR code to buy something. A buyer who pushes the sale outside Etsy checkout is steering you away from the protection that covers it (Etsy Help).
What it looks like
A message that sounds like a sale: "Is this still available?" Then the twist. They want to pay another way, or talk on email or WhatsApp. Or they send a QR code "to confirm the order", or a screenshot that says payment is waiting for you to "verify". Some offer to pay more than your asking price.
Why each move is a warning
Etsy lists these exact behaviours as signs of a scam aimed at sellers:
- "The sender tries to move the conversation to email for any reason." Etsy's advice is to keep all buyer communication in Messages; "an email is never required for a buyer to complete a purchase."
- "The buyer refuses to go through checkout on Etsy", which disqualifies the sale from Etsy Purchase Protection.
- "The sender sends you a QR code, claiming you need to scan it to confirm their purchase."
- "The buyer offers to send you more money than you are asking for your item." Overpayment is the setup for a refund scam: see overpayment scams.
- Vague questions that suggest they haven't looked at your listing.
What to do
- Keep everything inside Etsy Messages and Etsy checkout. If they won't buy through checkout, there is no sale.
- Don't scan codes or open "payment confirmation" links. A real payment shows up in your Etsy orders.
- Report the message. Reporting sends it to Spam and stops that member messaging you, although they can still buy.
- If you shared information, change your Etsy and email passwords and turn on two-factor sign-in.
Questions people ask
A buyer says Etsy is holding their payment until I verify. Is that real?
No. Order and payment status shows in your shop's orders and Shop Manager. A buyer can't see or release your payout.
Can I sell to someone off Etsy if they found me there?
That's a decision about Etsy's rules and your own risk, but an off-platform sale has none of Etsy's protection. If they insist, treat it as a warning.
How can I check a message fast?
Paste it into the free scam checker. It flags off-platform requests, overpayment and look-alike payment links.
Related patterns
Fake "Etsy Support" in your inbox
A message warns your Etsy shop will be suspended unless you verify or scan a code. How to tell real Etsy messages from fakes, using Etsy's own rules.
How to spot itThe "task" job
Paid to like videos or rate products, then asked to deposit money to unlock your earnings? That is a task scam. How it works and what to do.
How to spot itThe "try our app first" sponsorship
A sponsor sends software to "test" before the deal. The file steals your logged-in sessions. How to spot the fake collab and what to do.
How to spot it