Will Etsy Refund Money If Scammed? (Explained!)

Online marketplaces like Etsy make it easy for people to buy and sell handmade, vintage, and craft supplies from all over the world.

As great as these platforms are, scams are an unfortunate reality. Both buyers and sellers run the risk of being defrauded when using sites like Etsy.

The good news is that Etsy has policies in place to protect its users and provide refunds in cases of confirmed scams.

Here’s what Etsy buyers and sellers need to know about getting refunds if scammed.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

As a buyer, if you get scammed on Etsy then you may get a complete refund if Etsy verifies your claims and closes the case in your favor
Similarly, sellers can also get complete refund from Etsy if a buyer is trying to scam them
You have to provide all the necessary information to Etsy about the matter that supports your claim like chat screenshots, delivered package pics, etc.

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Will Etsy Refund Money If Scammed

Yes, Etsy will refund your money if you have been scammed, as long as you can show proof that the item you purchased was either not delivered or is not as described.

If the item is not as expected, you need to open a case on Etsy and submit evidence like photos, receipts, and messages to support your claim.

If Etsy agrees you were scammed, the seller will be forced to refund the full amount you paid, including shipping costs.

Etsy will only handle refunds for your orders that are within 180 days of the purchase date.

If it has been longer than that, you will need to resolve it directly with the seller off of Etsy’s platform.

And if Etsy does not provide you with a refund, you can still dispute the charge with your bank as fraud.

So in summary, Etsy does offer refunds if you can confirm you were scammed, but you need to take certain steps to show proof and report the scam in a timely manner.

Getting a Refund as a Buyer

If you buy something on Etsy and don’t receive your order or the item is drastically different than described, you may have been scammed.

Here are the steps to take as a buyer to get your money back:

1. Contact the Seller

Sometimes it’s not always the seller who can scam you, it could be the courier partner too. (Although it’s very rare)

Imagine if your item got broken due to poor handling by the courier partner.

Or maybe they have replaced your item during shipping?

Anything could happen, right?

In that case, your first course of action should be reaching out to the seller directly through Etsy messaging.

Be sure to contact them as soon as possible after realizing you’ve been scammed. Explain in detail what happened and why you believe you were defrauded.

For example:

You paid for a handmade ceramic mug but received a cheap plastic cup shipped from China.
You never received the vintage jewelry you ordered and paid for. See how long does Etsy take to ship.
The digital download you purchased is corrupted and unusable. See How To Download Etsy Digital Files In Your Laptop Or iPhone

Provide photos, screenshots, order numbers, or any other documentation that supports your claim. The more details you can provide, the better.

In most cases, if the seller has some reputation on the platform they won’t dare to spoil that and they will either offer you a refund or replace your item.

2. File a Report with Etsy

If the seller is unresponsive or unwilling to work towards a resolution, it’s time to get Etsy involved.

You can report the issue to Etsy’s support staff. They have dedicated staff who investigate problems just like this.

All you have to do is Visit Etsy support Page and then click on “Buying On Etsy”.

From there click on “Help With an Order”

And then choose your order that is casuing you the problem.

When filing your report, you’ll need to provide information like:

Item listing
Seller’s username
Your order ID
Screenshots of conversations
The reason you believe you were scammed

Etsy will review your report, examine the evidence, and take appropriate action if they agree you were defrauded. This can include forcing the seller to issue a refund, removing the fraudulent listing, or suspending the seller’s account.

3. Dispute the Charges

If you paid with a credit card or PayPal, you may be able to dispute the charges and recover your money that way.

Your credit card company or PayPal will also investigate your claim and act accordingly based on the available evidence and proof.

And if they decided to close the case in your favor, you will get your money back.

Getting a Refund as a Seller

Sellers can be victims of scams too. Some dishonest buyers will claim they didn’t receive an order when they actually did. Others will say an item arrived damaged or not as described to get a refund and the item for free.

Fortunately, Etsy has a Seller Purchase Policy that covers qualified sellers against buyer fraud. Here’s the process:

1. Report Suspected Fraud to Etsy

If you think a buyer is trying to scam you, you should contact Etsy support team right away.

2. Gather The Necessary Information

To receive coverage under Etsy’s Seller Protection Policy, you’ll need to provide them with enough evidence to support your claim. Be prepared to give Etsy info like:

Buyer’s name, address, and contact info
Tracking number showing delivered order
Screenshots of conversations with the buyer
Reasons you think the buyer is scamming you

3. Etsy Investigates the Claim

Etsy will thoroughly examine the details of your claim. They may reach out to both you and the buyer for additional information.

If Etsy agrees that the buyer is trying to scam you, they will come in action and refund you for any losses under the Seller Protection Policy.

In some cases, Etsy may even refund the buyer and let you keep your profits from the sale. This ensures you don’t lose money due to dishonest buyers.

How Etsy Is Preventing Scams On Their Platform

Etsy takes many proactive steps to prevent scams and fraud:

Requiring seller identities be verified – Sellers must provide a valid credit card, bank account, and other personally identifying information. Read our in-depth article on is Etsy legit?
Trust and Safety investigations – Etsy employs a full department dedicated to investigating shady activity and taking appropriate actions.
Seller ratings – Buyers can leave reviews of sellers. Low ratings help warn about fraud sellers. See how to leave a review on Etsy.
Removal of fake listings – Etsy monitors for replica and counterfeit products and takes them down. See does Etsy sell fake stuff.

However, given the size of Etsy’s marketplace, scams are impossible to prevent completely. Having policies to refund victims is essential.

Conclusion

While the vast majority of Etsy transactions are problem-free, scams are an unfortunate occurrence buyer and sellers must watch out for.

If you are defrauded as a buyer or seller, be sure to contact Etsy and report it immediately. Provide as much evidence and details as possible.

Etsy will investigate and issue refunds in confirmed scam cases. You may also be able to dispute charges through your payment provider.

The sooner you can report a scam, the better chance you have of getting your money back. Etsy’s teams can act quickly to prevent additional losses.

With some caution on your part and Etsy’s buyer and seller protections, you can shop and sell with confidence.