The second-hand market is growing constantly — and not just in the offline world. Platforms like Vinted are becoming increasingly popular and attracting new users with great offers. Whether you want to buy or sell used goods, be careful. That’s because cybercriminals steal thousands of dollars every week on this platform. Read on to learn how to spot scams on Vinted as well as how to protect yourself from them. Also discover how Avira Safe Shopping enhances your ability to spot sites with security holes and infected ads more effectively.
What is Vinted?
Vinted is a marketplace for used goods. It launched back in 2008 and is similar to eBay and classified ads. Since then, Vinted has enjoyed significant international expansion, launching in several countries — including the US in 2013. The marketplace itself is not an online shop but is used exclusively to buy and sell used items as a C2C (customer to customer) platform. Key item categories include fashion, jewelry, electronics, and decorative items.
Vinted is available in 15 countries across Europe and North America. The concept is as simple as it is ingenious: Sellers can make money from items they no longer need. In return, buyers receive items at a fair price and usually in good condition. By primarily trading in used goods, this conserves resources and in doing so the environment.
Even though this sounds very good and simple in theory, many users ask themselves the question: “Is Vinted safe?” In this article, you’ll learn about the scams that exist on the platform, what you should look out for, how you can spot a Vinted scam as well as how you can strengthen your defenses against one.
What are the goals of scammers on Vinted?
There are numerous different Vinted scams that can make this platform quite dangerous for inexperienced buyers and sellers. The aim of Vinted scams is the same as those on comparable platforms:
- Contact information: With your personal data such as name, address, telephone number, etc., scammers can commit identity theft. When successful, they can buy goods, take out contracts, and even commit criminal offenses in your name
- Account information: Often, Vinted scams aim to obtain your financial information. Financial theft can be a real risk if your bank or PayPal account is accessed
- Product fraud: By deliberately sending the wrong items or making bogus complaints about allegedly incorrect products they’ve received, sellers and buyers alike try to exploit the other side and the Vinted Buyer Protection scheme. With this, the buyer can get their money back if the item doesn’t turn up or isn’t as expected when it arrives.
Important: Open your items the moment you receive them and check to see if they’re exactly as described, their condition is as listed, and to confirm that everything’s there. Vinted’s Buyer Protection scheme is generous in cases of fraud, but you’ve got to report the issue to Vinted within two days of delivery. If in doubt, film yourself opening the package (or packing it for shipping) so you have sufficient evidence in the event of a dispute.
What are the potential tell-tale warning signs of a Vinted scam?
Although there is more than one Vinted scam, there are a few typical signs that can help you narrow down what you should look out for on your next visit to the platform:
- Product prices: Prices that seem suspiciously low should set off alarm bells — especially when compared to current market prices. Strange amounts, especially after the decimal point, can also indicate that there’s something wrong with the offer.
- Here’s a good example: $16.43
- The username: Random usernames are a warning sign — especially if they look auto-generated.
- Here’s a good example: kj353485hf
- Profile pictures: Profile pictures that look suspicious, fake, or potentially stolen can be a sign of a scammer. Even if the person doesn’t have a profile picture, the user account might be questionable.
- Product photos: If product photos have obviously been taken from other offers, this should raise an eyebrow. These images often catch your eye when scrolling through item listings. Also pay attention to mirrored words — the tactic of mirroring images is used so automated image searches don’t immediately identify them as copies.
- Missing offer history: Check if the seller has already bought or sold other items. This can be a warning sign if they haven’t bought or sold anything else. Check other active listings to see if the user is selling similar items and that all the images were taken by the same person.
- No user reviews: You won’t see any user reviews if there’s been no activity from this profile. This may indicate that a fraudster created the Vinted account just for the scam.
- PayPal payment: Another scam on Vinted is by using PayPal and the Friends and Family payment option. If the seller asks you to transfer your money this way, watch out. This saves the recipient from having to pay fees — but you also lose your buyer protection with PayPal.
The most obvious signs of a potential Vinted scam is in your conversations with the other person. Read on to find out how potential scammers operate on the platform to get your data.
Communications: How to spot Vinted scammers
Regardless of how legit/fake the item listing was, always be on your guard even before you make contact with the other person. To prepare you as best as possible for potential Vinted scams, we’ve split this section into the different contact channels, the possible identities scammers can assume, as well as the typical conversation starters.
The different contact channels
A key element of most Vinted scams lies in the conversation with the potential victim. With this in mind, at no point should you be persuaded to leave Vinted as a platform for communicating. Scammers will promptly ask you via direct message to transfer the conversation to email, text, or phone. Being the victim of a WhatsApp scam on Vinted is no longer a rarity, as the conversation can take place anywhere and at zero additional cost.
But also always remain vigilant to direct messages on Vinted. It is not uncommon for scammers to pretend to be from the support team and request personal information to help you with your account or an open transaction. Never respond to this request because customer service would never ask you in the first place.
Possible identities that scammers can assume
In their Vinted scam, scammers don’t only act in the role of buyers (or sellers). Increasingly, they seek contact with potential victims even without a prior sale. In this case, the scammers pose as someone from Vinted customer service, the platform’s shipping or payment partner, or as an interested buyer.
Since they get in touch in this case even before you’ve bought anything, messages can be sent automatically to a vast number of users. Faking someone’s identity is considered the cybercrime of catfishing.
Typical conversation starters with a Vinted scam
Scammers need an excuse to get in touch with potential victims — it’s the only way most Vinted scams work. The most common conversation starters include:
- Performing the final transaction via an external link
- Verifying contact or account information
- Complaining about receiving the wrong item
- Requesting further pictures or videos of the item, preferably via email or WhatsApp
If you’ve clicked an external link or a malicious file attachment, Avira Free Security can help to minimize any potential damage. That’s because the tool detects and eliminates potential threats such as viruses and malware in real time.
How to spot fake buyers on Vinted
It isn’t only sellers who resort to common Vinted scams. Even if you’re selling an item, a buyer may want to swindle you. Typical warning signs that a potential buyer is scamming you include:
- Direct purchase: Has your item only just gone online and someone’s already asked to buy it? If this is accompanied by a request for your email address or telephone number, be on high alert.
- Account details: Is the buyer asking for your credit card or PayPal details to complete the payment? In addition, they’ve sent you a link to confirm receipt of payment? If so, those alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.
- Overpayment: A typical Vinted scam involving PayPal involves a buyer “accidentally” overpaying for the item. Instead of reversing the actual payment, the buyer asks the seller to transfer the excess payment back to them — which many users do because they believe they’re doing the right thing. Here’s the scam: After receiving the transfer, the scammer withdraws their original payment. This means that you as the seller have now lost the money from the original payment, the refund, and perhaps even the item. This is just one of many PayPal scams, which more and more fraudsters are using.
In general: If a buyer asks you to take the conversation outside the platform, be wary. Asking for sensitive information or receiving messages with external links are also most certainly a sign that even potential buyers are trying to scam you.
How to identify potential phishing messages
To avoid becoming a victim of a Vinted scam, check every message for anything unusual or inconsistent. A Vinted scam’s chances of success hinge on the actual conversation. The most common method scammers use to obtain sensitive information from their victims is called phishing.
In a phishing attack, a scammer attempts to pose as a trustworthy individual. Such cybercriminals try to obtain confidential information from the potential victim during the conversation. Here are some tell-tale signs that the message is a phishing attempt:
- Sender address: The sender’s name or email address seems suspicious.
- Private data: Cybercriminals request sensitive, personal information (login information, bank details, name and address).
- External links: You are asked to click external links to complete the purchase or transaction or to provide personal information.
- File attachments: Perpetrators attach files to messages that might contain a computer virus or keylogger. These paralyze your computer or track everything you type on your keyboard to obtain passwords and confidential notes.
- Immediate action: The sender demands you do something right away.
- Spelling: The message is littered with grammatical and spelling errors.
- Contact via WhatsApp: Scammers often ask for additional pictures or videos to be sent via email, MMS, or WhatsApp. If you do, you automatically give out your cell phone number, which scammers can then misuse.
What do legitimate Vinted messages look like?
There are two ways Vinted customer service might contact you: Via a direct message on the platform or by email. When receiving direct messages from the Vinted team, always look for the “Team Vinted” badge next to the username. This verifies the account as real and legitimate. Official Vinted emails will always come from one of these addresses: vinted@vinted.com, no-reply@vinted.com, dpo@vinted.com, or legal@vinted.com.
Vinted will never ask for sensitive, personal data when contacting you or shift communication to an external platform. Any link will take you exclusively to subpages of Vinted or official platform partners.
You’re a victim of a Vinted scam: What can you do
Are you unhappy with your purchase or have you fallen victim to a Vinted scam? Contact Vinted’s customer service team as soon as possible. The quickest way is to use the contact form on the Vinted website. You can use it to submit support requests in the event of a problem and to report illegal content. Both work without you needing to have your own account. However, if you want to report something specific, you must be logged in. The following options are available to report a member, message, or offer:
- Report a member: Open the member’s profile and click the icon with the three dots in the right-hand corner. Here you’ll find the Report button and can add the reason and further information. The support team will then provide you with information on the next steps you can take.
- Report a message: Open the corresponding chat history and click the i icon on the top right. Using the Report button again, you can access the form where you can enter the reason and further information.
- Report an item: Open the corresponding offer and click the icon with the 3 dots or the flag icon on the top right. Once again using the Report button, you can alert Vinted to the item listing.
By the way: Has the seller account blocked you following your purchase? Then it’s a pretty clear case that the seller was a scammer. If the item hasn’t yet been shipped, you’ll be informed in the coming few days that the order has been canceled automatically. If the item does arrive, report it to Vinted immediately following receipt (and within the two-day period). Whatever happens, rest assured — you’ll get your money back.
Has your Vinted account been hacked?
Spot strange activity on your account? Then your Vinted account may have been hacked or compromised. If it has, check immediately to see if your email address has been changed. Also change your password straight away and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA). Also review the Login activity to see if any unknown devices have accessed your account.
If you can no longer log in to your account, reset your password. If you don’t receive your new password — such as because your email address has been changed — contact the support team immediately.
To sum up: Top tips for safe buying (or selling) on Vinted
Here’s a snapshot of the key learnings so you don’t fall for a Vinted scam in future:
- Communication: Never take the conversation outside of the platform.
- Sensitive information: Never share sensitive information.
- Links: Never click links from users you don’t know.
- Buyer profile: Always check the buyer’s name, profile picture, reviews, other offers, and previous history.
- Payment: Never select the Friends and Family option when paying through PayPal, otherwise PayPal Buyer Protection will no longer apply. Pay for purchases using the Vinted payment system, which is safer anyway.
- Parcels & goods: Always open and check packages immediately upon receipt since Vinted Buyer Protection only applies for the first two days following delivery.
- Evidence: Take the time to film yourself packing or opening your parcel so you have evidence in the event of a dispute.
Tip: If possible, turn on two-factor authentication for sensitive applications such as PayPal. Should the worst happen, you can prevent or at least make it more difficult for scammers to gain unauthorized access.
Safe Shopping add-on: The more reliable way to spot scams
With the tips and advice we’ve given, you can significantly minimize your risk of becoming a victim of a Vinted scam. But scammers and their methods are also constantly evolving and becoming ever more creative. This means it’s not always possible to tell at a glance if a page is trustworthy or whether a file attachment is dangerous.
With Avira Safe Shopping, you get a browser extension that makes your surfing experience and online shopping safer. It blocks intrusive and malicious ads, stops phishing websites from loading, prevents unwanted tracking by companies, and detects unwanted applications. What’s more, the tool helps you find the best deals when shopping online — so you can shop to your heart’s content.
Vinted is a brand of Vinted Limited.