web and mobile fraud
French scrutiny of Vinted over stolen goods
Pre-loved sales online marketplace Vinted is facing scrutiny from French authorities as it removes listings suspected of selling goods stolen during widespread riots across France.
It has reportedly stepped up internal checks and deleted suspicious adverts after products believed to have been looted from retailers appeared for sale online following Saturday’s unrest.
France’s small businesses minister Serge Papin said officials were due to meet with online marketplace operators on Monday, including Vinted, Amazon, eBay and TikTok, alongside representatives from the interior and justice ministries.
The talks follow reports of stolen merchandise being offered for sale online after rioters targeted retailers across the country, including luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Rolex, and beauty giant Sephora.
Vinted confirmed it had taken immediate action to identify and remove listings potentially linked to the looting, warning that sellers found breaching its rules could face permanent bans.
A spokesperson said: “The sale of stolen goods, or soliciting them, is strictly prohibited on Vinted, and we have zero tolerance for it.”
The company added that it was working with French authorities and law enforcement and would continue reviewing its processes to tackle suspicious activity.
Suspicious listings began appearing on resale platforms within hours of the unrest, with heavily discounted cosmetics, designer goods and collectables raising concerns that looted stock was being sold online.
Vinted, which counts France, the UK and Italy among its largest markets, relies partly on reports from retailers and users to identify potentially stolen goods.
The company has not disclosed how many listings have been removed or how many accounts have been suspended.
The unrest has also spread to Italy, where luxury stores have been looted, although Vinted has not confirmed whether it has detected a similar rise in suspicious listings there.
