Five Vinted Scams To Be Aware Of This Christmas

With Christmas shopping in full swing, many of us spend our evenings scrolling through Vinted looking for deals – adding even more items to carts that were already pretty full. But one expert says now, more than ever, is exactly when shoppers need to slow down before making a purchase. 

Simon Pretswell, CEO of UKSoccerShop, says scammers count on the December rush – stock going quickly, people in a hurry and deals that look just a bit too good to miss. 

“With everything moving so fast, it’s easy to jump at something that doesn’t quite add up,” he says. “Scammers know people aren’t paying full attention in the Christmas rush – and they use that to their advantage.” So Simon’s advice is simple: slow down, even when a listing looks like the perfect present. “Use secure payment methods, check seller reviews properly and if you’re ever unsure, walk away – there will always be another listing.” 

Here are the Vinted scams that catch buyers out the most during the festive season, and how to avoid falling for them. 

Being asked to pay outside the app  

It’s one of the oldest tricks on Vinted, and Pretswell says it tends to spike at Christmas. A seller offers a “better price” if you pay by bank transfer or PayPal instead of through the app – and that’s exactly when people get caught out. 

“Never agree to pay outside Vinted’s system,” he says. “The moment you send money directly, you lose all the protection the platform gives you.” 

If the item never turns up, arrives damaged or looks nothing like the photos, there’s often no real route to a refund. “It might seem harmless at the time, but it’s one of the quickest ways to end up out of pocket,” he says. “And once the payment’s gone, it rarely comes back.” 

“Too good to be true” bargains  

Christmas does bring real bargains, but scammers know that and use it to their advantage. 

“If a luxury item or something that’s normally on the pricey side is suddenly listed for a tiny fraction of what should be the asking price, slow down,” says Simon. “Scammers rely on that moment of excitement – that feeling you need to buy it before someone else grabs it – so never rush.” 

Before buying, check what similar items actually sell for (not just what they’re listed for). Most genuine sellers know the value of what they’ve got. This trick shows up a lot with brand-name clothes, trainers and special-edition pieces that might be sold out elsewhere – exactly the kind of things buyers are desperate to find for Christmas. 

Empty package and “wrong item” Vinted scams  

Another scam is the parcel that arrives but doesn’t contain what you paid for. “Some sellers send an empty package or something worthless, then rely on the tracking to show it was delivered,” Simon explains. “On paper everything looks legitimate, which makes it incredibly frustrating for buyers.” 

For more expensive items, he suggests filming yourself opening the package, so you’ve got clear evidence of what was inside. Photos can help too. “This kind of proof can make a big difference in a dispute,” he says. “If the tracking shows delivery but the parcel was empty or wrong, you’ll have something to back yourself up.” 

Hacked or compromised accounts  

If you use Vinted a lot, you’ll know how comforting it is to find a seller you trust. You’ve bought from them before, the parcel arrived, everything went smoothly – great. But this is exactly why scammers hack established accounts around Christmas.

“We’ve seen long-standing accounts suddenly listing items they’d never usually touch,” he says.

If your go-to seller suddenly has loads of high-value items for next to nothing, or their messages sound a bit “off”, don’t brush it aside. “Often it’s the change in tone or behaviour that’s the giveaway,” he says. “The profile is real, but the person using it isn’t.”

Fake designer and branded items  

Christmas is prime time for counterfeit goods – everything from bags and trainers to beauty sets and tech accessories. “Scammers know a lot of people will be searching for branded gifts, so they push out as many fake items as they can,” Simon explains. 

He advises buyers to stick to listings with real photos and good reviews, and to be wary of anything using only polished stock images. 

“Asking for close-up photos of labels and stitching is also a good idea, as it’s the tiny details that give it away,” he says. “Small things that don’t line up with the real thing, like a slightly odd font or stitching that doesn’t look quite right.” 

A quick note for football shirt buyers 

While the problem isn’t limited to sportswear, Simon says football shirts are among the most commonly counterfeited items he sees. This is especially true around Christmas, when demand shoots up. 

Just like with designer pieces, people are desperate to track down certain shirts as gifts, and scammers know it. If you’re buying something pricey or something you really care about, he says it’s worth checking the tags, stitching and sizing labels. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra photos if anything feels even slightly off. “For high-value or collectable items, going through a specialist retailer or verified reseller is always the safest option,” he adds.