Vinted scams targeting sellers: 8 traps to spot before it's too late

Scams aimed at Vinted sellers almost all have one thing in common: they push you to leave the app, click a link or hand over information (login details, bank card, SMS code). The rule that protects you from most of them: everything happens inside Vinted, and Vinted only sends emails from its official domain (for Vinted France, an address ending in @vinted.fr).

You'll discover the 8 most common scams on the seller side, the signs that let you spot them in seconds, and what to do if you've been caught out.

Why are sellers targeted?

Because a seller is waiting to be paid. That makes them receptive to any message about money to receive, a sale to confirm or a payment problem. Scammers play on that expectation and on urgency.

According to Vinted's page on phishing and scams, attempts come through Vinted messages, text messages, emails and QR codes, always with the same goal: getting your login details, your password or your bank details.

What are the 8 scams that target Vinted sellers?

1. The fake "confirm your sale to receive your money" email

A "buyer" contacts you, says they've paid, then you receive an email imitating Vinted asking you to click to "confirm the sale" or "release the payment". The link leads to a fake site that asks for your bank card.

The sign: on Vinted, you never need to confirm anything to get paid. The money arrives in your Wallet once the order is completed. And the sender's address isn't on Vinted's official domain.

2. The QR code "to receive payment"

A modern variant: the scammer sends you a QR code to scan to receive the money or print a label. It redirects to a phishing page. Vinted explicitly lists QR codes among the methods used.

The sign: a real Vinted label is generated in the order conversation, not from a code sent by a stranger.

3. "Shall we carry on over WhatsApp?"

The buyer suggests chatting by text, WhatsApp or email, often claiming there's a problem with the app. Outside Vinted, they can send you rigged links, and you lose all protection.

The sign: no honest buyer needs your number to buy. Vinted advises staying on the platform for the whole transaction.

4. Payment outside the platform

"I'll send you a bank transfer, can you post it directly?" The transfer never arrives, or it's cancelled after you've shipped, or the "proof of transfer" is a doctored screenshot. According to Vinted's page on buying and paying safely, payments made outside Vinted's system aren't protected and Vinted can't step in.

The sign: any payment offer that doesn't go through the Buy now button.

5. Fake customer service

An account presents itself as "Vinted Support" or "Security Team" and tells you there's a problem with your account or payment. It asks for your login details, a code received by text, or for you to click a link.

The sign: according to Vinted, the real support team is identified by a distinctive badge. And support never asks for your password or a verification code.

6. The SMS code "sent by mistake"

You receive a code by text, then a message: "Sorry, I sent you my code by mistake, can you send it back to me?" In reality, it's the login or reset code for your account. By handing it over, you give the scammer your account.

The sign: a verification code is never shared, with anyone.

7. The swapped return

The buyer opens a dispute, gets the return approved, then sends back a different item: a fake, a different size, a damaged model. If there's no proof of the original item, it's hard to contest.

The sign: a persistent dispute over a branded or valuable item. The defence is prepared before shipping: detailed photos of the item, with the label and distinctive features visible.

8. The "empty parcel" or "missing item"

The buyer claims to have received an empty or incomplete parcel. Sometimes it's true (theft in transit), sometimes it's an attempt to get both the item and the refund.

The sign: nothing certain. That's why a photo of the sealed, weighed parcel with its label, and the drop-off receipt, which Vinted recommends keeping until the sale is complete, are so useful.

How can you spot a scam at a glance?

The 8 scams look alike. This table sums up the signals to watch for and the right reaction.

What habits keep you from getting caught?

A few habits are enough to block almost all these scams.

Why does a high volume of messages make you more vulnerable?

Scams work best when you're in a hurry. Answering twenty messages between two appointments is exactly when you click a link without checking the sender, or say "yes" to a request for your number to speed things up.

The more you sell, the more messages you get, and the more your vigilance wears thin. A seller running several accounts, with an app open for each one, is constantly juggling dozens of conversations.

Keeping a calm eye on every conversation gets hard when they arrive from all directions. Revendor brings the messages from all your Vinted accounts into one place, and its AI agent answers routine questions, which leaves you the attention to spot suspicious messages.

What should you do if you've been scammed?

Act fast. Every hour counts, especially if you've given out bank details.

• Bank card entered on a fake site: call your bank to block the card and dispute the transactions.
• Login details given away: change your Vinted password (and your email password if it's the same), then check your bank details and address in your account.
• Report it to Vinted: forward fraudulent emails to [email protected], as Vinted's phishing page says, and report the account from its profile.
• Get support: in France, Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr guides victims depending on their situation. Elsewhere, turn to your country's official fraud reporting service.

If your account has been hacked or restricted after a scam, our guide on blocked or restricted Vinted accounts sets out what to do.

Scams change, the principles stay the same

Scammers change their script regularly: a new pretext, a new fake site, a new layout. You can't know every variant. But the principles have stayed the same for years: get you off the platform, create urgency, obtain a code or a card.

If you remember only one thing: when a message pushes you to do something outside Vinted's normal process, stop and check in the app. Real sales never need rushing.