Created as an online platform where people can sell the things they no longer use to earn money and reduce waste, Vinted has also become a fertile ground for online spikes. This is how it happens that instead of new clothes with tags, as they were promised by the seller, some users find themselves with old products, in bad condition. Others receive empty boxes or a printed image instead of phones. Although the platform has a number of buyer protection provisions, many have found solutions to trick customers and at the same time ensure that they cannot be forced to refund the money. Both the police and lawyers advise those who feel cheated not to let it go and file complaints.
Spikes on Vinted. PHOTO Reddit
The spear with the clothes presented as new
“What does a 200 lei stake look like on Vinted? Well, I'm telling you, just so you don't order from this person anymore”. This is how a young woman begins her Tik Tok clip, in which she shows what she ordered versus what she received:
“I didn't read the reviews, and I did very badly because I only read them after I got a stake. So I ordered a woolen jacket. (…) It seemed very ok to give 200 lei for it, considering that in the store it could be 400-500 lei. In the end, I ordered, I didn't haggle, I don't necessarily like to ask for offers. (…) The man asked me for 200 lei, I gave 200 lei”
In the description and pictures, the product was presented as “new with tags”, with two rows of buttons and in size XS. In reality, the young woman received a men's jacket, without any tags, with only one row of buttons and in a much larger size.
Video source: Tik Tok/ Ioana Antonia
After opening the package, the young woman did not accept the order and filled out the return form. In such situations, the rules of the platform state that pictures must be uploaded to prove that the product does not correspond to the description on the website. At the same time, he recommends discussions with the seller, in order to find a solution together. Only, some users complain, despite the evidence, the platform does not always win the cause of the deceived.
In other situations, the spikes are more elaborate, and the sellers try to make sure that they will not be held liable.
How do people end up paying 2,800 lei for a picture
Perhaps the most well-known method of deception is when sellers send empty boxes or printed pictures of the product they are supposed to be selling. Most often, expensive phones.
How do they ensure they won't be held liable by the platform? For example, although the first part of the description clearly states “Good condition, 256 GB, purple, no accessories, original box” far below it says “What are you buying? Just the phone box”.
Example of an ad that deceives buyers PHOTO Facebook/Vinted Romania
In other situations, although the user writes that they are selling a phone, they then specify that they will deliver a sealed box. In such a way that the ad leaves room for interpretations and has success after the sale.
Example of an ad that deceives buyers PHOTO Facebook/Vinted Romania
Another case, same platform. As stealthily as possible, it is announced that the buyer will actually.. a printed picture. Such items appear as sold, a sign that more people have fallen into the trap. And the amounts paid are not small at all: they reach several thousand lei.
Example of an ad that deceives buyers PHOTO Facebook/Vinted Romania
Example of an ad that deceives buyers PHOTO Facebook/Vinted Romania
The footage was posted on a Facebook group by people who want to raise awareness. The same is happening on Reddit, where someone warns about a pair of sunglasses. Although the ad refers to glasses, in the description the user says that the package contains a box, case, cover and cloth.
Cheat example PHOTO Reddit
Cheat example PHOTO Reddit
Lawyer: It's obvious that it's a form of cheating
Lawyer Tudor Mitroi says that all is not lost for those who have faced such situations:
“We recommend the person who was cheated to file a criminal complaint for committing the crime of fraud, to take all steps towards the platform to recover their money, and, at the same time, from my point of view, it would also be useful to report the platform to ANPC. Because ok, the platform only mediates, but there should be, I think, a minimum filter to ensure that there are no misleading ads”.
Despite the tricks, it can be proven that it is a fraud, the lawyer says:
“It is obvious that it is a form of deception. The fact that I put in a parenthesis somewhere an information that escapes attention does not mean that I am covered. This kind of approach was also practiced in contracts with certain credit institutions until about 10 years ago. There were a lot of clauses, placed somewhere towards the end or through some paragraphs that escaped the attention of a normal consumer, without legal studies, most of the time. And it was clear that you had no way of knowing, that it was not in your interest to focus on such details.
Likewise in the present case. The fact that I put a * somewhere and that I make a reference to information like this, that I am not actually marketing a product, but marketing a picture, from my point of view does not mean that it excludes the criminal nature of the act. The ad is selling a phone, not a printed picture.”
What does the Police advise us?
Police representatives say that cheating methods are also present on other sales platforms, and users must be very careful.
“In the situation where, following some orders, the buyers received products different from those ordered or even empty parcels, if the problems cannot be solved through the internal mechanisms of the platform, we recommend the injured person to go to the nearest police unit and file a complaint for fraud, providing all available documents and evidence. It is important for users to keep platform conversations, product photos, payment confirmations and any other items that may support investigative work.” explains Crina Eșanu, spokesperson for the Capital Police.
It also comes with a number of tips for those buying from reselling platforms:
,,We recommend users of online trading platforms to check the seller's profile, rating, transaction history and comments from other users. They can be important indicators of credibility. To use only the payment and communication methods made available by the platform and to avoid discussions and transactions outside the application”.
