France Investigates Suspected Child Trafficking on Vinted

French prosecutors have launched an investigation into allegations of child trafficking occurring on the popular online marketplace Vinted. The probe was initiated following reports on social media, notably TikTok and Instagram, that highlighted suspicious listings.

These listings allegedly disguised child trafficking by offering items, such as toys, at exorbitant prices. Influencers shared videos pointing out anomalies, like a Harry Potter figurine listed for 30,000 euros with descriptions including a height of 1.58 meters and an age of 13 years. Some suggested these details were a veiled attempt to conceal a child trafficking operation.

Sarah El Haïry, France's High Commissioner for Children, confirmed she had reported "the existence of accounts on Vinted, suspected of being involved in child trafficking." She described the situation as "chilling" if proven true. An article also mentioned a journalist who contacted a man allegedly offering a girl for sale under the guise of an innocent advertisement; however, the article was later corrected, stating the seller was a 17-year-old student attempting to trap "pedophiles."

As of now, the French Public Prosecutor's Office has not confirmed whether any of the reports were substantiated. Some sellers named in the reports have maintained they were merely selling toys. Vinted has responded to the allegations, stating that its own investigation has found no indications of child trafficking on its platform. The company clarified that listed ages typically refer to the intended age group for toys, and high prices might be due to collector's value, provocations, or negotiation tactics.

Vinted assured that it does not tolerate inappropriate content and intervenes when suspicious ads are flagged, cooperating with police if necessary. The company also noted that the age mentioned in listings refers to the age group for which the toy is intended, and high prices can be justified by collector's value, provocations, or negotiation tactics.