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Domain Due Diligence

Report for Etsy.com

Report Date
October 20, 2025
Recommendation
Caution
Overall Summary
Suspicious
  Why we think so? 

Etsy.com is a large, established e-commerce marketplace known for handmade, vintage, and unique goods. It ranks within the top 100 websites globally with over 370 million monthly visits, primarily from the United States. The site uses reputable technologies and payment providers, holds valid SSL certificates, and shows good registry and domain age history. However, it has numerous reports of scams and fraudulent sellers operating on the platform, including fake shops, counterfeit goods, off-platform payment requests, and shipping fraud, causing financial losses for both buyers and sellers. Etsy itself is a legitimate entity with trademark registrations, active legal disputes mainly in privacy and intellectual property, and publicly documented efforts to combat fraudulent activity. Users should remain cautious and verify sellers individually despite the platform's authenticity.

Confidence Score
75%

Risk Insights

🛒

Established Marketplace with High Traffic

  • Ranks #76 globally with over 370 million monthly visits.
  • Primary users from the United States (56%) and strong web presence.
  • Supports numerous payment options including credit cards and Apple Pay.
⚠️

Presence of Fraudulent Sellers

  • Many complaints about fake shops, counterfeit goods, and scams.
  • Off-platform payment requests increase buyer risk significantly.
  • Users report difficulties recovering funds after fraud incidents.
✅

Strong Brand and Legal Footing

  • Multiple trademarks registered under Etsy, Inc.
  • Domain registered since 2004 with a reputable registrar.
  • Active legal battles show compliance and enforcement activity.

Contradictory Signals

While Etsy.com itself is legitimate, users face risks due to scam activities by third-party sellers.

Signal A: High domain and brand legitimacy with strong technical infrastructure

Signal B: Widespread reports of scams and fraudulent sellers on the platform

Category Scores

Red Flags & Warnings

  • Multiple reports of scam shops and fake sellers deceiving buyers, leading to financial losses.
  • Legal disputes including privacy lawsuits and intellectual property conflicts highlight operational risks.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Legitimacy

Score: 90/100
Passed

"Domain ownership and SSL validation are strong indicators of authenticity."

Reason: Etsy.com has a long registration history (since 2004) with a reputable registrar and valid SSL certificates.

Brand and Trademark Validation

Score: 85/100
Passed

"Trademark records support legitimate brand identity."

Reason: Multiple active trademarks registered under Etsy, Inc. confirm intellectual property ownership.

Traffic and User Engagement

Score: 80/100
Passed

"Traffic data supports site legitimacy and popularity."

Reason: High traffic volume (~370 million visits monthly) and strong user engagement metrics indicate an established platform.

Technical Infrastructure

Score: 85/100
Passed

"Technical stack is consistent with professional e-commerce operations."

Reason: Use of well-known technologies, payment providers, and CDN networks adds credibility.

Blacklist and Safety Status

Score: 95/100
Passed

"Blacklist status indicates a clean domain reputation."

Reason: No presence on major scam or phishing blacklists including Google Safe Browsing and crypto scam databases.

User Reports of Fraud

Score: 45/100
Failed

"Fraudulent activity is prevalent among individual sellers, affecting user trust."

Reason: Numerous complaints about fraudulent sellers, scam listings, off-platform payments, and shipping fraud highlight risks.

Legal and Customer Disputes

Score: 60/100
Failed

"Legal issues represent an ongoing concern but are typical for marketplaces of this size."

Reason: Ongoing privacy lawsuits and intellectual property disputes reflect operational challenges and risks.

Your Next Steps

  • 1

    Verify individual sellers carefully before purchases on Etsy.com.

  • 2

    Avoid off-platform payment requests to maintain buyer protections.

  • 3

    Report suspected fraudulent listings or sellers to Etsy promptly.

  • 4

    Consider using buyer protection and dispute resolution options if issues arise.

  • 5

    Stay informed about ongoing legal cases affecting platform policy and protection.

Evidence & Citations

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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