Social media post warns of Vinted scam: a photo of a sweater instead of the sweater

A user of the social network Threads has drawn attention to a selling tactic on the second-hand marketplace Vinted: a buyer who does not read a listing carefully enough may pay 140 euros for a branded sweater and receive only a photograph of it. The author asks whether others have heard of this new type of scam. The issue matters to anyone shopping online, since one oversight can mean losing money and not getting the expected item.

The author describes a case in which a person pays for a garment but receives just an image. She expresses disbelief at such a practice and writes that at times she feels like asking someone to stop the world so she could get off.

Commenters share similar cases

The post prompted a discussion in which users shared their own experiences. Some pointed out that the tactic is not new and has been seen on other platforms. One commenter recalled that sellers did the same back when eBay was at its peak popularity. Another said that when NVIDIA RTX graphics cards were hard to buy, a picture or an empty box of an RTX 4090 could be bought for 3,000–4,000 euros.

One user said she bought a LEGO box for a child, but the toys themselves were not inside. Another admitted he once bought just a single hockey glove, though in that case he managed to return the item.

Can a buyer complain?

Commenters also discussed buyer protection. One user noted that if the delivered item does not match expectations, the buyer should not confirm that everything is in order. Another pointed out a nuance: if the listing clearly states that a photograph is being sold, the seller could argue that the terms were stated in advance.

Several commenters stressed that it is important to read the entire listing and check the seller's profile before buying. Some users prefer physical stores, where an item can be inspected before purchase and, in certain cases, returned.