Recognising scams on Vinted

Vinted is a popular peer-to-peer platform for second-hand clothes and goods, but unfortunately scammers have found it too. On this page we explain how to recognise common Vinted scams and how to protect yourself from them.

What is Vinted and how does it work?

Vinted is a peer-to-peer platform founded in 2008 where users can sell, buy and swap second-hand clothes and goods. The platform has millions of users around the world and is especially popular in Europe.

  • User accounts - Every user has a profile showing reviews and previous sales.
  • Product listings - Sellers create listings for their items with photos, descriptions and price information.
  • Vinted protected payment - The platform offers a secure payment system that holds the money until the buyer confirms receipt of the item.
  • Review system - Buyers and sellers can review each other after a deal, which helps assess trustworthiness.
  • Following and offers - Users can follow sellers’ profiles, make offers and negotiate prices.
Vinkki: Vintedin virallinen maksujärjestelmä tarjoaa ostajille suojaa, sillä se palauttaa rahat, jos tuote on kuvatusta poikkeava tai jos sitä ei toimiteta.

The most common scams on Vinted

  • Payment-bypass scams - The seller asks you to pay by a method outside Vinted (e.g. bank transfer or MobilePay).
  • Counterfeit goods - A counterfeit branded item is sold as genuine, significantly below the market price.
  • False listings - The photos do not match reality, or the item’s condition is described as better than it is.
  • Undelivered items - The seller accepts the money but never sends the item.
  • Parcel scams - The seller claims to have sent the parcel but instead sends an empty or worthless one.
  • Stolen login details - Scammers try to hijack accounts with phishing messages that appear to come from Vinted.
  • Fake shipments - The seller claims to have posted the item and even gives a (forged) tracking number.
  • Identity theft - Scammers create profiles using the names of well-known brands or people.
Varoitus: Vinted ei koskaan pyydä sinua maksamaan alustan ulkopuolella. Jos myyjä ehdottaa Vintedin maksujärjestelmän ohittamista, kyseessä on lähes aina huijaus. Jos maksat alustan ulkopuolella, menetät Vintedin ostosuojan.

A scammer posing as a buyer and a payment confirmation link or QR code

In 2026, Nordea warned that online flea-market scams are most common precisely in Finland, and they affect Vinted too. Currently the most common method targets the seller: the scammer poses as an eager buyer and sends the seller a link or QR code claimed to be for "receiving" or "confirming" the payment. The link, however, leads to a fake website made to look like Vinted, a courier service or Posti, where the seller’s online banking credentials or card details are phished. Remember how Vinted actually works: when your item sells, the money appears in your Vinted balance, and once the buyer has confirmed receipt of the item you can withdraw it. Vinted never sends payment links in messages. If a "buyer" sends you a link or QR code for payment, do not click it or enter your details - it is a scam.

A buyer damages the item to get a refund

Sellers are also targeted by a scam in which the buyer damages the item on purpose - for example stains a garment - and then demands a refund claiming the item was defective. Protect yourself by documenting the item carefully before sending it: take clear photos of the item’s condition and any genuine markings, and keep the shipping receipt. If the buyer complains, you can show Vinted’s customer service proof of the condition in which the item was sent. On Vinted, the buyer has two business days to report dissatisfaction after receiving the item, so keep the evidence at least until then.

How to recognise a trustworthy seller on Vinted?

On platforms like Vinted, the seller’s trustworthiness is central to the buyer’s safety. With these tips you can assess a seller’s trustworthiness:

1
Tarkista myyjän arvostelut ja arvosanat

Trustworthy sellers have good reviews from several buyers. Pay attention to the quality and detail of the reviews too, not just the number.

2
Tutki profiilin ikä ja aktiivisuus

Trustworthy sellers have often been on Vinted longer and sold several items. Newly created accounts with expensive items for sale can be suspicious.

3
Arvioi tuotekuvien laatu ja määrä

Trustworthy sellers provide several high-quality photos of the item from different angles. Any faults and wear on the item are shown honestly in the photos.

4
Tarkista hinta suhteessa markkinahintaan

If an item is for sale significantly below the market price, be especially careful. Offers that are too good are usually scams, especially with branded goods.

Pro-vinkki: Pyydä myyjää lisäämään kuva, jossa tuotteessa näkyy myyjän käyttäjänimi paperilla tai tarjoamaan lisätietoja tuotteen alkuperästä, kuten kuitti aitouden varmistamiseksi.

Counterfeit clothing on Vinted

Counterfeit goods are a common problem in second-hand trade on platforms like Vinted. Here is how to recognise counterfeits:

  • Unrealistically low price - Genuine luxury brands hold their value well even second-hand. If the price is too low, it is probably a counterfeit.
  • Poor quality - Check the quality of the stitching, materials and details in the photos. Poor stitching, uneven prints and cheap material point to a counterfeit.
  • Incorrect logos or markings - Compare the item’s logos and markings with the official ones. Even small discrepancies point to a counterfeit.
  • Missing markings - Genuine branded goods usually have serial numbers, certificates of authenticity or other markings.
  • The seller’s reluctance to share more photos - If the seller refuses to send more photos of, for example, the markings or stitching, be careful.
Muista: Väärennösten myyminen on laitonta ja Vintedin ehtojen vastaista. Suomessa tuoteväärennösten myynti voi olla rangaistavaa tekijänoikeusrikkomuksena tai petoksena. Jos epäilet tuoteväärennöstä, raportoi ilmoitus Vintedille.

How to recognise a payment-bypass scam

A payment-bypass scam is a common way for scammers to get money without any intention of delivering the item. Here is how to recognise this common scam:

1
Myyjä ehdottaa maksua alustan ulkopuolella

The seller may propose payment by bank transfer, MobilePay, Tilillä or another method instead of via Vinted’s payment system. This is often justified with excuses such as "lower payment costs" or "faster delivery".

2
Myyjä pyytää keskustelua Vintedin ulkopuolella

The seller may suggest moving the conversation to WhatsApp, text messages or email. In that case Vinted cannot monitor the conversation and does not see payment proposals made outside the platform.

3
Myyjä tarjoaa alennusta ulkopuolisesta maksusta

Scammers lure buyers with discounts if they agree to pay outside the platform. The saving is illusory, because you buy without any protection at all.

4
Myyjä keksii tarinan kiireestä tai erikoistilanteesta

Scammers often create pressure by citing urgency, a family emergency or some other special situation that requires quick payment or bypassing the system.

Sääntö nro 1: Älä KOSKAAN maksa Vintedin maksujärjestelmän ulkopuolella. Jos maksat suoraan myyjälle, menetät kaikki Vintedin tarjoaman ostosuojan ja varat palauttamisen mahdollisuudet. Vintedin käyttöehdot kieltävät alustan ohittamisen ja raportoitaessa siitä voi seurata käyttäjätilin sulkeminen.

Parcel scams and shipping scams

In these scams the seller claims to have sent the item even though they have not, or has sent something else:

  • Empty parcel - The seller sends an empty parcel and claims the item was in it.
  • Wrong or cheaper item - The seller sends a different or significantly poorer-quality item.
  • Forged tracking code - The seller gives a tracking code that does not actually relate to your order but looks active.
  • Undelivered parcel - The seller marks the item as delivered but never sends it.
Suojaudu näin: Avaa paketti mieluiten videokuvaten (erityisesti kalliiden tuotteiden kohdalla). Näin voit todistaa, mitä paketti sisälsi, jos joudut tekemään reklamaation. Tarkista aina ostamasi tuote huolellisesti ennen kuin vahvistat sen vastaanotetuksi Vintedissä.

Safe use of Vinted

  • Always use Vinted’s own payment system - It provides buyer protection and the possibility of getting your money back if problems arise.
  • Read the seller’s reviews carefully - Look for reviews that contain detailed information about the seller’s activity.
  • Ask for more information and photos - Trustworthy sellers are happy to answer further questions and provide more photos on request.
  • Check the item as soon as it arrives - Inspect the item carefully before you confirm that it has been received.
  • Keep Vinted conversations on the platform - Do not move the conversation to other platforms, so that the chat history is kept in Vinted’s system.
  • Do not share personal information - Be careful about sharing parts of your personal identity code, bank details or other sensitive information.
Vinkki: Jos tuote maksaa yli 50 euroa, kannattaa harkita ostotapahtuman tallentamista videolla. Avaa paketti videon tallentaessa, jotta pystyt todistamaan tuotteen kunnon reklamaatiotilanteessa.

What to do if you are scammed on Vinted?

If you suspect you have been targeted by a scam on Vinted, act quickly according to these instructions:

1
Ota yhteyttä myyjään

First, it is worth trying to resolve the issue directly with the seller. Sometimes it may be a genuine misunderstanding or mistake.

2
Älä hyväksy toimitusta Vintedissä

If you are not satisfied with the item or it has not been delivered, do NOT confirm the item as received on Vinted. This gives you time to make a complaint.

3
Tee reklamaatio Vintedille

If the problem is not resolved with the seller, file an official complaint with Vinted’s customer service. Attach all evidence: photos of the item’s poor condition, the chat history with the seller, payment receipts and so on. If you gave out your bank or card details to a phishing link, contact your bank immediately and report both the profile and the message on Vinted.

4
Jos maksoit Vintedin ulkopuolella

If you paid the seller directly outside Vinted’s payment system and were scammed, contact your bank or payment service and try to reverse the payment. Also file a police report if the amount is significant.

5
Raportoi huijariprofiili

Help other users by reporting the scammer’s profile to Vinted. This can prevent others from falling victim to the same scammer.

Muista: Jos olet menettänyt merkittävän summan rahaa, tee rikosilmoitus poliisille. Verkkohuijaukset ovat rikoksia!

Vinted’s special features and scam risks

  • International deliveries - Vinted operates in several countries, which can make it harder for a scam victim to get their money back from a foreign seller.
  • Second-hand goods - Assessing the condition of used goods is subjective, which makes it possible to exaggerate the condition.
  • Rapidly growing popularity - Vinted’s rapidly growing popularity has also attracted scammers to the platform.
  • Sale of luxury goods - Many luxury brands are sold on the platform, which attracts sellers of counterfeits.
  • The circular economy trend - The popularity and appreciation of second-hand clothes has risen, which has also raised the scam risks to a new level.
Lopuksi: Vinted on pääosin turvallinen alusta, ja suurin osa käyttäjistä on rehellisiä. Olemalla valppaana ja noudattamalla tässä oppaassa jaettuja ohjeita voit nauttia edullisista ostoksista turvallisesti. Muista, että jos tarjous vaikuttaa liian hyvältä ollakseen totta, se todennäköisesti on huijaus.