Can you get scammed on Vinted? Unfortunately, yes. Whilst Vinted is a brilliant platform for buying and selling second-hand clothes, scammers do operate on the site – and they’re getting more sophisticated.
I’ve been using Vinted for years (both buying and selling), and whilst most transactions are completely fine, I’ve encountered dodgy sellers, fake items, and several attempted scams. The good news? Once you know what to look out for, Vinted scams are easy to spot and avoid.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the most common Vinted scams in 2026, share real examples, and explain exactly how to protect yourself whether you’re buying or selling. From counterfeit designer items to spoof email scams, here’s everything you need to know to stay safe on Vinted.
- Can You Get Scammed on Vinted? Quick Answer
- What is Vinted? (And Can You Get Scammed on It?)
- Identifying Common Vinted Scams
- The Counterfeit Item Scam
- The Misleading Description Scam
- The Deceptive Seller Profile Scam
- The Off-Platform Transaction Scam
- The Spoof Email Scam
- The Wrong Item Scam
- Safeguarding Your Transactions on Vinted
- Reporting a Scam on Vinted
- How To Report A Scam To Vinted
- Does Vinted’s Buyer Protection Stop Scams?
- Final Thoughts: Can You Get Scammed on Vinted?
- Vinted Scams FAQs
Can You Get Scammed on Vinted? Quick Answer
Yes, you can get scammed on Vinted, but it’s less common than on platforms without buyer protection. Vinted scams typically involve:
- Counterfeit luxury items – Fake designer bags, shoes, or clothes sold as authentic
- Off-platform payments – Scammers asking you to pay outside Vinted to avoid fees
- Spoof emails – Fake emails pretending to be from Vinted asking for bank details
- Wrong item scams – Receiving a different item than what you ordered
- Misleading descriptions – Items described as “like new” arriving damaged or worn
The good news: If you use Vinted’s payment system and buyer protection, you’re covered. The scams happen when people go off-platform or ignore red flags.
Keep reading for detailed examples of each Vinted scam and exactly how to avoid them.
What is Vinted? (And Can You Get Scammed on It?)
Vinted is a member-to-member online marketplace allowing users to sell, buy, and swap second-hand products, primarily clothes and accessories. The platform is widely used across 15 countries, including Europe and North America. It has gained popularity amongst both sellers and buyers, and unfortunately, fraudsters too.
Identifying Common Vinted Scams
Vinted scams come in many forms, and scammers are constantly adapting their tactics. If you’ve been caught out before, don’t feel stupid – these people are professional fraudsters who make it their job to deceive people.
Important: New Vinted users are particularly vulnerable because they don’t yet recognise the red flags. If you’re new to the platform, pay extra attention to this guide.
Golden rules to avoid Vinted scams:
- NEVER pay outside Vinted’s payment system
- NEVER do bank transfers or PayPal payments off-platform
- NEVER click links in messages claiming to be from Vinted
Follow these rules and you’ll avoid 95% of Vinted scams. Now let’s look at the specific scams and how to spot them.
The Counterfeit Item Scam
One of the prevalent scams on Vinted is the sale of counterfeit luxury goods. Scammers often create listings advertising pre-owned products at attractive prices, only to deliver fake items to unsuspecting buyers.
How To Avoid This Scam
To spot fake items on Vinted, you can:
- Compare the photos in the listing with the official brand images.
- Check the seller’s previous customer reviews.
- Look at the other luxury items the seller has on sale.
- If there are many items listed with the same description or photo, this could be a scam and/or bot listing the items.
Vinted have a great service where you can pay £10 for the seller to send your purchase directly to Vinted’s team to check for authenticity. If it passes, then they will post the item to you. Totally worth it for high-item products!
The Misleading Description Scam
Scammers on Vinted often use misleading photos and descriptions to deceive buyers. This involves vague descriptions about the condition and size of a product, with the goal of selling it more quickly.
How To Avoid This Scam
To avoid falling for this scam, consider the following:
- Always ask for more detailed images or dimensions of an item to get a better understanding of its true condition and size.
- Check the item’s label for authenticity. If it’s not visible in the photos, request it from the seller.
The Deceptive Seller Profile Scam
Scammers often create deceptive seller profiles to fool potential buyers. They may use odd usernames, weird profile pictures (or not profile photo), or provide invalid email addresses to seem legitimate.
How To Avoid This Scam
To avoid falling for a deceptive seller profile scam:
- Always check the seller’s profile thoroughly for any red flags.
- Look out for any items that might be too good to be true – high-value items at low value, for example.
- Read through the reviews left by other buyers.
- Look out for signs of counterfeiting, misleading descriptions, and cancelled shipments.
It’s always a good idea to be cautious of buyers who also have no profile details or no feedback.
The Off-Platform Transaction Scam
This is one of the most common Vinted scams. Scammers will message you asking to complete the transaction outside Vinted – usually via PayPal, bank transfer, or even cash on collection.
What they say:
- “I’ll give you 10% more if you send me your PayPal”
- “Can we do this outside Vinted to avoid fees?”
- “Message me on WhatsApp: [number]”
- “Send me your email and I’ll transfer the money directly”
Why it’s a scam: Once you pay outside Vinted, you lose buyer protection. The seller can take your money and never send the item. Even if they do send something, if it’s fake or not as described, you have zero recourse.
How To Avoid This Scam:
- ALWAYS use Vinted’s payment system – no exceptions
- Never give out your email, phone number, or WhatsApp
- Report anyone asking to go off-platform
- Remember: Vinted fees protect you; avoiding them puts you at risk
If someone’s offering you a “better deal” off-platform, ask yourself: if this item is so desirable, why can’t they sell it properly through Vinted? It’s a scam.
The Spoof Email Scam
This Vinted scam is particularly sneaky. Scammers get your email address (either by asking for it or through data breaches), then send convincing fake emails that look like they’re from Vinted or PayPal.
How they get your email:
- “I need to verify you’re a real seller – what’s your email?”
- “Vinted requires your email to process the payment”
- “Send me your email so I can send you the shipping label”
What the fake emails look like:
- Fake payment confirmation: “Your Vinted payment is pending – click here to confirm your bank details”
- Fake shipping request: “Your buyer has paid – please ship the item now” (when they haven’t actually paid)
- Fake login page: Email directs you to a website that looks like Vinted but steals your password
- Fake PayPal overpayment: “You’ve been paid £150 instead of £50 – please refund the difference” (no payment was ever made)
How to spot fake emails:
- Check the sender address carefully – real Vinted emails come from @vinted.co.uk or @vinted.com
- Hover over links before clicking – fake ones don’t go to vinted.co.uk
- Poor spelling or grammar (though scammers are getting better at this)
- Requests for urgent action (“Act now or lose your account!”)
How To Avoid This Scam:
- Check all payment status in the Vinted app, not via email
- Never click links in unexpected emails claiming to be from Vinted
- Report phishing emails to Vinted’s support team
Real example: A seller I know received an email saying “Your buyer has paid £85 for your jacket. Please ship within 24 hours or your account will be suspended.” She almost shipped it before checking the Vinted app – there was no payment. The email was fake.
The Wrong Item Scam
This is a prevalent scam that can go both ways. The scammer can claim they received a different item. Or they can send you a different item to what you bought.
The best way to overcome both of these is to take photos or video of you packing up an item, or unpacking it. Always escalate this to Vinted’s customer service, photo and video evidence. with your evidence.
Safeguarding Your Transactions on Vinted
To ensure a safe and secure experience on Vinted, it’s essential to:
- Use Vinted’s secure payment system for all transactions.
- Avoid sharing personal information, including your email address and bank details.
- Be cautious of phishing messages that may appear to come from Vinted.
- Regularly update your browser to keep it secure.
Reporting a Scam on Vinted
If you become a victim of a scam on Vinted, it’s crucial to report it immediately. Here’s what you should do:
- Report the incident to your local police station.
- Alert Vinted’s customer support about the scam.
- If you find yourself blocked by a seller after buying an item, this is likely because the seller is a scammer an has been banned. Contact Vinted for a refund.
How To Report A Scam To Vinted
To report someone on Vinted, an online marketplace for buying, selling, and trading secondhand fashion, follow these steps:
- Open the Vinted App or Website: Launch the Vinted app on your mobile device or go to the Vinted website on your computer’s browser.
- Choose the Reason for Reporting: Vinted will typically provide a list of reasons for reporting a user. Select the most appropriate reason that corresponds to the user’s behaviour or activity you’re reporting.
- Provide Additional Details (if prompted): Depending on the reason you selected, you may be asked to provide additional information or details about the situation. Be as specific as possible to help Vinted’s support team understand the issue.
- Confirmation: After submitting the report, you may receive a confirmation message indicating that your report has been successfully submitted.
- Follow-up (if needed): If you have additional information to provide or if you need to follow up on the report, you can contact Vinted’s customer support team through their help centre or support channels.
Does Vinted’s Buyer Protection Stop Scams?
Vinted’s Buyer Protection is a safety measure that protects buyers from potential scams. It ensures secure payments and offers refunds if an item arrives damaged or not as described. Remember, Vinted investigates claims on a case-by-case basis, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be compensated.
Final Thoughts: Can You Get Scammed on Vinted?
Can you get scammed on Vinted? Yes. Will you get scammed on Vinted? Probably not, if you’re sensible.
I’ve been using Vinted for years and have completed hundreds of transactions. I’ve encountered dodgy listings, received one fake item (which I got refunded for), and had several people try the off-platform payment scam. But I’ve never actually lost money because I followed the basic rules.
Your Vinted scam protection checklist:
- ✅ Always use Vinted’s payment system
- ✅ Check seller reviews and profile thoroughly
- ✅ Ask for extra photos if something seems off
- ✅ Take photos/video when packing items (if selling)
- ✅ Report suspicious messages immediately
- ✅ Trust your instincts – if it feels dodgy, it probably is
The vast majority of Vinted users are genuine people clearing out their wardrobes or hunting for bargains. Scammers are the minority, and they’re easy to spot once you know what to look for.
If something goes wrong and you paid through Vinted, you’re protected. If you ignored the warnings and went off-platform, you’re on your own. It really is that simple.
For more money-saving tips and online selling advice, check out my guides to the best cashback apps in the UK and best money-making apps.
Vinted Scams FAQs
1. Can you get scammed on Vinted as a seller?
Yes, sellers can be scammed on Vinted. Common seller scams include buyers claiming they received the wrong item (when they didn’t), buyers asking for refunds after receiving items, and fake payment confirmation emails. Always use Vinted’s payment system, take photos/videos when packing items, and never ship until payment shows in your Vinted account.
2. Can you get scammed on Vinted as a buyer?
Yes, buyers can be scammed through counterfeit items, misleading descriptions, or receiving completely different items. However, Vinted’s Buyer Protection covers you if you pay through the app. Always use Vinted’s payment system, check seller reviews carefully, and report any issues immediately.
3. Is it safe to buy on Vinted?
Vinted is generally safe if you follow basic precautions: use Vinted’s payment system, check seller ratings and reviews, read item descriptions carefully, ask for extra photos if needed, and never go off-platform. Thousands of people use Vinted successfully every day – the scams happen when people ignore red flags or bypass Vinted’s protection.
4. What happens if you get scammed on Vinted?
If you paid through Vinted’s system, you’re protected. Report the issue through the app, provide evidence (photos, screenshots, messages), and Vinted will investigate. If the item was counterfeit, damaged, or not as described, you’ll typically get a refund. If you paid off-platform, Vinted can’t help – contact your bank instead.
5. How do I know if a Vinted seller is legit?
Check their profile for: lots of positive reviews, detailed photos of items, reasonable prices (if it’s too good to be true, it probably is), prompt message responses, and completed transactions. Red flags include: brand new accounts with expensive items, stock photos instead of real photos, prices way below market value, and requests to go off-platform.
6. Can Vinted refund you if scammed?
Yes, Vinted’s Buyer Protection will refund you if the item is counterfeit, significantly not as described, or doesn’t arrive. You must have paid through Vinted’s system and report the issue within the time limit (usually within 2 days of receiving the item). Take photos as evidence and explain the issue clearly.
7. How do I report a scammer on Vinted?
Tap the three dots on the user’s profile, select “Report,” choose the reason (scam, counterfeit item, harassment, etc.), and provide details. Vinted investigates all reports. You can also report specific listings or messages. If you’ve been scammed, report through the transaction itself for faster resolution.
8. Should I give my email to a Vinted buyer?
No, never. This is a common Vinted scam tactic. There’s no legitimate reason a buyer needs your email – all communication should happen through Vinted’s messaging system. If someone asks for your email, report them immediately.
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