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Original poster

Is this a police job? Threatened by Vinted seller

746 replies

Reasonswhy · 28/11/2025 14:36

I know I’m not, but posting for traffic as no idea what to do.
Item for Christmas arrived today and was clearly fake so applied for a refund via Vinted. I’ve had a series of threatening messages from the seller saying he needs the money, and he has my address so will come and find me. He included a photo of himself holding an air rifle. I’m not easily spooked but feel really scared now as he does have my address and seems very angry. I’ve filed a “help” through Vinted but they may not even read it for 48 hours. Do I call 111? On my own with 2 kids so feel really on edge.

OP posts:
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14
Ghhhn · 30/11/2025 23:22

Reasonswhy · 30/11/2025 18:12

Update:
long day here, just stopped to say another big thank you to you all for being so supportive and to update you.
officers came this afternoon, took statement and screen of everything. Admitted they know little about cyber crime but will pass to relevant department and basically any further action is dependent on Vinted having and sharing address/phone number/ bank details with them and they didn’t look very hopeful. Said if someone had eg texted me this is would be far easier to trace them but from an app it’s much harder. I managed to go into into the tracking details of the parcel and saw it was sent from a shell garage in Milton Keynes. No not Newcastle or Southampton as the profiles say. Thank you all so so much for your support.

Does it give a time? Can you or the police get CCTV?

I know the question was is this a police job, not whether you need to do the police‘s job…

Sunny1706 · 30/11/2025 21:36

Op did you get your money back?

Kossak · 30/11/2025 21:19

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/11/2025 20:55

Maybe the OP should just reply to her abuser and address them with the wrong pronouns. That usually gets some action rolling.

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Indeed. Especially if it's a woman using the wrong pronouns for a man masquerading as a woman. Or tying suffragette ribbons to a wire fence. They seem able to turn up mob handed then, and record 'non crime hate incidents' galore. Soft targets.

Mildorado · 30/11/2025 21:16

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/11/2025 20:55

Maybe the OP should just reply to her abuser and address them with the wrong pronouns. That usually gets some action rolling.

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Naughty!

Sassylovesbooks · 30/11/2025 20:56

Vinted are a Lithuanian company, with offices in Lithuania, Germany and The Netherlands. The police cyber team would have to make a formal request to Vinted for them to release the details of the person who set up the profile. As Vinted are based in Lithuania, they aren't bound by UK law, so have no legal obligation to cooperate with our police. Of course morally they should fully cooperate. I suspect to obtain the details is a long and slow process. I wouldn't hold out much hope that any request to Vinted will be submitted. The police could contact colleagues in Milton Keynes, and ask them to obtain CCTV footage from the petrol station where the parcel was taken to be dispatched. I think that might be the only way this person is likely to be traced.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 30/11/2025 20:55

VickyEadieofThigh · 30/11/2025 20:39

Strange that, because the police have taken it very seriously when people have complained about being upset by comments on Twitter/X AND have got the 'offenders' detailes from Twitter/X AND have gone round their houses, had them interviewed at the station and so on...

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Maybe the OP should just reply to her abuser and address them with the wrong pronouns. That usually gets some action rolling.

VickyEadieofThigh · 30/11/2025 20:39

Reasonswhy · 30/11/2025 18:22

I just feel exhausted now (not the police fault 😂poorly child and just a hard weekend with this taking up lot of headspace) and feel frustrated they can’t do more, but also understand sadly this is the world we live in. They did acknowledge how disgusting the messages are and how unstable whoever it is must be, which doesn’t really help but they were basically saying as on the beat cops their hands are tied when it’s an app people hide behind.

Strange that, because the police have taken it very seriously when people have complained about being upset by comments on Twitter/X AND have got the 'offenders' detailes from Twitter/X AND have gone round their houses, had them interviewed at the station and so on...

AnticsRoadshow · 30/11/2025 20:29

Reasonswhy · 28/11/2025 23:59

Thank you.
It wa delivered by inpost, printed label…packaging was black so no obvious postal location or stamps I can see.

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Would they have your address if it was through InPost? I thought you had to collect from somewhere away from your house?

BakedAlaskaInMyTummy · 30/11/2025 20:24

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 30/11/2025 20:06

Heaven forbid the police need to actually do some police work. I would delete your Vinted account so they have no way of contacting you. They might not know your address. On eBay the buyer address appears on the label but I get that printed at the post office if it’s Evri or Royal Mail and don’t look at it. But Vinted might be different.

Tell me you don’t know any police officers in real life without telling me you don’t know any police officers in real life.

and read the thread - they DO have the OP’s address.

MissMoneyFairy · 30/11/2025 20:08

Can you report it to Action Fraud who work with the police cyber team

PoppySaidYesIKnow · 30/11/2025 20:06

Heaven forbid the police need to actually do some police work. I would delete your Vinted account so they have no way of contacting you. They might not know your address. On eBay the buyer address appears on the label but I get that printed at the post office if it’s Evri or Royal Mail and don’t look at it. But Vinted might be different.

puppymaddness · 30/11/2025 19:58

god the police are useless. Hope you are feeling more reassured OP and can start to put this whole horrible episode behind you xx

Shotokan101 · 30/11/2025 19:26

Reasonswhy · 30/11/2025 18:22

I just feel exhausted now (not the police fault 😂poorly child and just a hard weekend with this taking up lot of headspace) and feel frustrated they can’t do more, but also understand sadly this is the world we live in. They did acknowledge how disgusting the messages are and how unstable whoever it is must be, which doesn’t really help but they were basically saying as on the beat cops their hands are tied when it’s an app people hide behind.

What did they say about the "firearm" aspect?

Newsenmum · 30/11/2025 19:21

Is milton keynes anywhere near where you live? If not then hopefully that’s reassuring.

Mildorado · 30/11/2025 18:51

That's just so bad. What a dreadful state of affairs to be targeted like this.

Original poster
Reasonswhy · 30/11/2025 18:22

I just feel exhausted now (not the police fault 😂poorly child and just a hard weekend with this taking up lot of headspace) and feel frustrated they can’t do more, but also understand sadly this is the world we live in. They did acknowledge how disgusting the messages are and how unstable whoever it is must be, which doesn’t really help but they were basically saying as on the beat cops their hands are tied when it’s an app people hide behind.

OP posts:
Mildorado · 30/11/2025 18:16

Thanks for the update, @Reasonswhy .
Not a brilliant outcome, but at least they're passing it on.
This kind of thing really needs to be cracked down on big time, and businesses like Vinted should really spend money tightening this up.
I hope you're feeling a bit better tonight.

SingingOcean · 30/11/2025 18:15

Did the police offer any advice about what to do re your involvement on the app? I ask because I'd be tempted to hint that the Milton Keynes police force may be knocking on his door soon. (Obviously I don't really advise doing this, just be tempted).

Original poster
Reasonswhy · 30/11/2025 18:12

Update:
long day here, just stopped to say another big thank you to you all for being so supportive and to update you.
officers came this afternoon, took statement and screen of everything. Admitted they know little about cyber crime but will pass to relevant department and basically any further action is dependent on Vinted having and sharing address/phone number/ bank details with them and they didn’t look very hopeful. Said if someone had eg texted me this is would be far easier to trace them but from an app it’s much harder. I managed to go into into the tracking details of the parcel and saw it was sent from a shell garage in Milton Keynes. No not Newcastle or Southampton as the profiles say. Thank you all so so much for your support.

OP posts:
Hmm1234 · 30/11/2025 17:46

Reasonswhy · 28/11/2025 14:36

I know I’m not, but posting for traffic as no idea what to do.
Item for Christmas arrived today and was clearly fake so applied for a refund via Vinted. I’ve had a series of threatening messages from the seller saying he needs the money, and he has my address so will come and find me. He included a photo of himself holding an air rifle. I’m not easily spooked but feel really scared now as he does have my address and seems very angry. I’ve filed a “help” through Vinted but they may not even read it for 48 hours. Do I call 111? On my own with 2 kids so feel really on edge.

No seriously how unsafe! I’d take it to the police and even the newspapers, shocking how far someone will go over these second hand item platforms.

Mildorado · 30/11/2025 17:31

True, @HildegardP . It certainly seems wise to avoid Vinted altogether. If there's a boycott, maybe they'll act.

HildegardP · 30/11/2025 17:06

Puddingwombles · 30/11/2025 11:24

I hope you’re ok @Reasonswhy I have been thinking about you. How bloody scary! I’m so sorry this horrible person has made you feel so scared. It has really put me off using Vinted I have to say. I hope they pull their fingers out and offer some assistance (as they have a duty to to their customers) and I hope the police can do the same xx

This has been going on for at least 2 years in France with exactly the same MO & the same picture. Vinted have done nothing except perhaps move the area of activity. To stop it Vinted would have to spend money & restructure their model, those things seem unlikely to happen.
TBH, we'd all be better off using IRL vintage markets.

Witknit · 30/11/2025 14:48

PaisleyGilmourStreet · 30/11/2025 09:51

Vinted need to be doing more though, these stories have been in the press for several years now. They need more robust processes in place to protect buyers.

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I wholeheartedly agree. When I said "not relevant" I really meant to the fact that his threats are a criminal act which needs to be dealt with regardless of whether OP is right or wrong in the dispute

Extragreen · 30/11/2025 14:25

Any update @Reasonswhy ?

Sunshineandoranges · 30/11/2025 13:08

I had to come back to your post because I am so angry on your behalf. Why should a decent mum looking after two children not get the help and support she needs and why should the cowardly creep who is sending you threatening messages get away with it. I hooe the police come around today.

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