Is this a police job? Threatened by Vinted seller

[Reasonswhy]

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.

I’m now really scared as he’s gone to the trouble of setting up a whole new account and tracing my kids jacket listing and now it starts all over again. Feels less like an angry teenager in a strop in his room now 😢

This is just a pathetic nasty piece of work trying to scare you. He/she probably doesn't leave their home and likely lives 100s of miles away. Vinted will bar them and it sounds like the police will follow up. Please do not worry. That is what they intended.

Please contact the police again. Tell them you have been threatened and feel unsafe.

Report this at once, both to the police and to Vinted.

Get back in touch with the police and tell them you are worried it’s gone personal. This is the antithesis of a law abiding society and it’s why police and law exist.

still Waiting for the police to come today, and I’ve reported this new one to Vinted so they will get banned but will just set up a new one?

It’s definitely a young person just by the things they are saying - doesn’t make it any less scary though.

These are not high profile criminals as they wouldn’t be this stupid.

I don’t understand how he is messaging you if vinted blocked him - vinted needs to take some accountability for this.

In some ways it is good he has messaged again because if he went quiet the police would have said he’s lost interest but now you can report it again and they’ll take it more seriously.

You have done well to keep your cool. I’d be telling the little prick just what I thought of him.

Absolutely a police call!

OP, you should update the police. I'm sorry this is happening to you.

That's understandable! What a horrible pos he is.

It's very likely that he's just a bitter weirdo with nothing better to do than make a new account to try and scare you, but he needs sorting out. For your peace of mind/safety and also so he learns he can't behave like this so you're doing the right thing by contacting the police.
Have you managed to update the police with this new account he's contacting you with?

Have you got their address/contact info. for the Police?

No, it’s a new account so not linked to the old one. Have reported it to Vinted. Have tried 101 but wait times in excess of 50 mins and they are meant to be coming today when they can. So just need to wait.

Wow,what's your issue?!
I've read through as many messages as I can, absolutely no need for rudeness!!
No,she doesn't need to let us know,but surely,if someone's asked our opinion, wouldn't you wish to know the outcome & that her & her family are safe?!
No more to be said, other than,get over yourself love! 🙄🙄

Please call 999 updating them. Tell them you have been threatened with a firearm. You and your children need safeguarding.

He's made overt & implied threats of violence while reminding you that he has your address. Most Malicious Communications complaints are made by adult-sized toddlers with no social skills but this would form a solid complaint. Charges under the Online Safety Act also appear viable

(Vinted really are crap. Bloated prices, no possibility of quality control, last week's reports of hardcore porn showing up in ads they run on the site, & now wannabe gangsters flogging snide gear & threatening their victims. Walk away people, the site owners treat you as mugs.)

I'm no vinted expert @Reasonswhy but what is do know from my teenagers friends is this..... a lot of people buy fake but really good copies of expensive designer wear from overseas and sell it on vinted at low cost. They can have multiple accounts in order to try and not get caught up in the id/tax situation which kicks in when you sell a lot of stuff. So he may not be going to quite as much trouble as you're imagining.
I understand with young ones in the house though you will feel vulnerable.

Are you in Southampton? (That's where this account is listed)

This.

Do it now op, instead of being on here.

OP, have you got a named contact in the police dealing with this so you can be sure updates go to the right officer?

Do you have the number of the officer who called you yesterday? If so, I would reach out to him/her and provide this new information. This might light a fire under them.

I think this sounds exactly like a smelly teen acting up and unable to regulate his emotions - what kind of hardened adult criminal is going to put multiple threats in writing as evidence, then travel and/or send “his black friends” to your home for £75 over a fake tracksuit?

I hope the police respond quickly and are able to reassure you. And also that armed police storm this wanker’s home and put the fear of god in him.

Not in Southampton, or Newcastle where the first account was listed to.

if even 101 weren’t at all bothered yesterday and initially said they’d come next week, and someone is meant to come here today so it’s open but not deemed urgent, I think 999 won’t be overly impressed with me calling them but I have no idea

I was about the write the same comment!!

Can you put your phone on speaker phone and do other stuff whilst you're on hold to 101? The police might come round before you've got your call answered, in which case you've not lost anything. But equally if it's been a busy day for the police and you've slipped down the priority list, then ringing them will tell them that it's on-going and they need to come and see you sooner rather than later.

This is escalation. Forward this to police and call 101 and chase it up that they've referenced your address and notify vinted.

Also he cant get the money now they've blocked his original account. While I think this is still 101. If you have any reason to suspect hes at your home or anyone is id call 999 at that point

on hold to 101 again

I'm sure no one would mind you calling 999. You're scared and he's now threatening to rape your mother.

Honestly, some people call 999 for absolutely ridiculous reasons, no one will think this is ridiculous.