‘Watch out for printed picture scam’: People are claiming they’ve been misled on Vinted

Founded in 2008, Vinted has grown to become Europe’s largest secondhand retailer. It’s been wildly popular with people buying and selling old clothes and items, with 105 million registered users in 2023.

While Vinted is often associated with having positive environmental impact and being a stress-free side hustle, that hasn’t stopped some people online from claiming the worst – that they fell victim to scams, seller loopholes, false advertising and unjustified permanent bans from the app. 

A couple of months ago, freelance marketeer, Catherine Warrilow, founded sadvintedfaces.com, a website where Vinted users could air any grievances they had while using the app. Catherine was able to log 2,609 users had been banned or suspended from Vinted, as well as 2,526 people that said they were ignored by the app’s customer service.

It’s not just on Catherine’s website where users have claimed to have had negative experiences using Vinted. People have also taken to TikTok, X and other platforms to share their stories. After conducting a social media deep dive, here are some of the craziest claims circulating about selling and buying on Vinted.

‘Watch out for the printed picture scam’

via Unsplash

In a TikTok video, a creator warned those who use Vinted to “watch out for the printed picture scam,” claiming people have “lost hundreds of pounds due to this.”

In the video, they reviewed a Vinted account which uploaded a £10 “button back” which they described as looking “pretty legit.”

The video then shows a “massive paragraph,” allegedly belonging to the item’s description, containing the words: “Please note that what the customer will actually receive is a printed picture of the bag, not the physical handbag itself.”

The creator speculated the listing appears to be “a photo of a photo,” taken to “look like a normal bag.” They then urged Vinted users to “make sure you are reading the paragraphs.”

Sellers wrongly accused of ‘fraudulent activity’

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HUHHHHH??????? @vinted @vintedUK https://t.co/1Ig1MRSKGV pic.twitter.com/EdtBsfCDRE

— Rhys (@rhys_jb) August 18, 2026

User @rhys_jb posted on X that their Vinted account was permanently banned because of supposed “fraudulent activity, such as selling counterfeit items.” He claimed the items in question were just old football shirts.

Speaking to the BBC, Emma Neil detailed a similar experience. She had bought a pair of £3 sandals before realising they didn’t fit, so then relisted them for £2 on Vinted. She was then permanently banned for supposed “fraudulent activity.”

Selling ‘mystery items’ and falsely advertised brands

Oreoluwa, a Vinted user, told The Tab she was sent what she claims was “the entirely wrong order.” This occurred after the Vinted seller had included the words “mystery item” deep into the postings description, meaning Oreoluwa didn’t see it. 

This wasn’t the only issue Oreoluwa said she encountered while using Vinted. In a separate instance, she said she saw a “really pretty dress,” which she said was labelled “Urban Outfitters.” She then recalled receiving what “looked like a way cheaper version” and, before realising “it was not from Urban” and was instead from a different brand.

When she tried to get a refund, Oreoluwa claimed the seller had “cleared out their entire shop” and deleted their account, meaning she was unable to process a refund.

Vinted has been contacted for comment.

Featured image via TikTok @depopdrama and Unsplash