NANTERRE (France), June 27 — French authorities have opened an investigation after social media users raised concerns over unusual listings on the secondhand marketplace Vinted, which some feared could be linked to child trafficking.
NANTERRE (France), June 27 — French authorities have opened an investigation after social media users raised concerns over unusual listings on the secondhand marketplace Vinted, which some feared could be linked to child trafficking.
The public prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, west of Paris, confirmed to AFP on Friday that a preliminary inquiry has been launched.
Users online flagged certain listings as suspicious, citing items such as toys or low-value goods being offered at extremely high prices, along with references to ages, sizes or measurements that they believed could correspond to children.
Many of the listings reportedly carried four-figure price tags alongside descriptions mentioning ages, heights or clothing sizes, sparking widespread discussion on social media, particularly on TikTok.
In one widely shared video, a content creator pointed to a listing for a Harry Potter figure priced at €30,000 (RM139,643), questioning what he described as unusual details such as “a height of 1.58m” and “13 years old,” which he suggested could indicate coded messaging linked to trafficking.
France’s High Commissioner for Childhood, Sarah El Hairy, said earlier this week that she had reported accounts suspected of being involved in child trafficking activity on the platform.
However, the prosecutor’s office has not confirmed whether any of the reported cases are substantiated.
Several sellers identified in social media posts told AFP that they were simply selling toys.
When asked for comment, Vinted said it had reviewed the circulating listings and found no evidence connecting them to child trafficking.
The company explained that age references in listings typically indicate the recommended age range for toys, while unusually high prices could reflect collector value, negotiation tactics, or user experimentation.
Vinted also said it does not tolerate inappropriate content and removes suspicious listings when identified, while cooperating with authorities when necessary. — AFP
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