Vinted has reinforced the surveillance of its platform and has removed suspicious listings believed to be related to the looting recorded in France during the weekend of October 17 and 18. The company has announced immediate measures to identify publications linked to stolen products and has warned that accounts that violate its rules may be permanently suspended.
The decision comes after social media users spread images of listings offering large quantities of new products at reduced prices, including cosmetics, perfumes, clothing, and luxury items. Some posts showed batches of makeup and bags with products that apparently came from establishments affected by the looting.
According to Reuters, Vinted has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against the sale of stolen goods and has confirmed that it is collaborating with French authorities and law enforcement to detect possible illicit activities. The buying and selling company has not detailed how many listings it has removed or the total volume of affected products.
The French Government asks for control from digital platforms
According to Le Monde, French ministers responsible for Commerce and Digital have summoned representatives from Vinted, Amazon, eBay, Leboncoin, Meta, and TikTok to address the identification and removal of suspicious publications, as well as cooperation with authorities to investigate potential culprits. The objective is to prevent stolen products from being resold through second-hand platforms or social networks and to facilitate the identification of those who try to profit from the looting.
eBay has indicated that it has technological tools, manual reviews, and mechanisms to receive notifications from users and collaborate with law enforcement. The company has not confirmed, for the moment, an increase in listings related to the weekend's robberies.
The cosmetics sector: one of the most affected by the resale of looted goods
The incidents highlight an additional risk for cosmetic, perfumery, and luxury companies: the possible digital resale of products stolen from their establishments. During the riots, several beauty stores and premium brands suffered damage or looting, including Sephora establishments and points of sale linked to luxury brands. The subsequent appearance of suspicious items on digital platforms extends the impact of the problem beyond physical stores.
For brands, the challenge is not limited to inventory losses. The circulation of stolen merchandise can complicate product traceability, hinder investigations, and raise doubts about its origin and authenticity. In categories such as makeup and perfumery, it is also especially important to control storage conditions and ensure product safety. At the same time, identifying a suspicious listing does not equate to proving an item is stolen. Low prices, the sale of several products together, or the posting of new merchandise do not, by themselves, constitute proof of illicit origin. Therefore, speed in moderation must be combined with verification procedures that avoid harming legitimate sellers.