Disturbing Vinted AdsHow can young people protect themselves from fake news?
What are the false reports about Vinted listings all about?
Screenshots of Vinted listings have been circulating on social media. Vinted is a marketplace where users can sell items, similar to platforms like eBay or Kleinanzeigen.de. The screenshots showed items such as stuffed animals. However, these were listed at extremely high prices of several thousand euros. The product descriptions also included details on size, gender, and age. This led to the false claim that the sales listings were actually cases of child trafficking—that is, that real children, not stuffed animals or dolls, were being offered for sale.
As of the time this article was written (June 9, 2026), numerous videos can be found on Instagram and TikTok that issue urgent warnings about an alleged danger on Vinted. Some of these videos have several hundred thousand or even millions of views. In them, the creators usually film themselves and express their disbelief at the alleged crimes in a highly emotional manner. In many of the videos—and in numerous comments below them— references to widespread conspiracy theories can be found. For example, the lack of evidence for actual crimes is explained by the claim that a secret elite is operating behind the scenes and preventing these crimes from being investigated.
Is there any evidence of actual child trafficking on Vinted?
So far, there is no evidence that the listings are posted by criminals offering children for sale. The listings are, however, genuine and some can still be found on Vinted. This does not, however, mean that there is an actual child trafficking ring. As things stand, it can be assumed that the strange listings were either created in error —for example, the price was accidentally set much too high—or that they are intentionally provocative fake listings. The fact-checking portal Mimikama has compiled more detailed background information. Readers will also learn here that this type of story surrounding alleged human trafficking on sales platforms is not a new phenomenon. Rather, they have appeared repeatedly on the internet over the years in various countries and on various platforms.
Why do such false reports spread so rapidly?
A look at the view counts for posts on this topic offers an initial explanation: Sensational topics generate a lot of attention. This is a particularly welcome topic for monetized accounts, whose owners earn money through likes and views. Whether the creators genuinely believe they are drawing attention to a real danger, or whether they are deliberately spreading misinformation, cannot be determined from the outside. However, highly emotional topics are viewed more frequently and are also shared by users much more often. This, in turn, exposes more people to the misinformation.
News portals also play an important role. They often rely on clickbait headlines that give the impression there is some truth to the false report. While the articles themselves usually correctly report that there is no evidence of actual criminal activity, However, anyone who just quickly searches for other sources will come across headlines such as:“Child Trafficking? Police Investigating Vinted Listings”or“Vinted Listings: Are Children Being Sold Here? Police investigating”or“Suspicious listings and prices: Suspicions of child trafficking on Vinted—French authorities investigating.” A cursory search on this topic can quickly give the impression, based on such headlines, that child trafficking is actually taking place. Reputable headlines do not spread this false claim but debunk it directly in the headline, as in this example:“There is no evidence of children being sold on Vinted.”*
Podcast Recommendation
If you're interested in how false reports spread, we recommend our podcast “klicksafe Asks… (16): How Do Misinformation Stories Make It Into the Headlines?”. In the podcast, we speak with Leonie Oehmig from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue Germany (ISD Germany) about the “National Rape Day” hoax. It went viral on German-language websites in 2024. There were numerous posts on social media, online and print media reported on it, and politicians also issued warnings. The problem: “National Rape Day” is an internationally known hoax—that is, intentionally spread false information intended to cause unrest.
How can we help young people deal with misinformation and conspiracy theories?
Within a very short time, false reports spread about the alleged sale of children on Vinted. Many children and teenagers have also come across these reports on popular social media platforms. This is problematic for several reasons.
For one thing, stories about the sale of children for the purpose of sexual violence can trigger fear and anxiety. The topic is highly sensitive and should be addressed with equal sensitivity, especially when communicating with children and teenagers. However, many of the videos are sensationalist and not suitable for addressing the issue of sexual violence against children in an age-appropriate manner.
In addition, many of these videos contain elements of conspiracy theory. Institutions such as “the government” or “the police” are portrayed as incapable of taking action against such crimes. Depending on the interpretation, they are either deemed incapable of doing so or are even alleged to be in cahoots with the criminals. Children and adolescents are thus led to develop a mistrust—unjustified by facts—toward (democratic) institutions that are allegedly completely incapable or corrupt.
These tips can help you assess misinformation
Examine sensational headlines critically: Does the headline shock you? Is it surprising and does it trigger strong emotions like fear or hatred? What seems implausible at first glance often is.
Be critical and check the source: Where does the information come from? Is it clear who published or wrote the article? Are the name and address listed in the legal notice? A look at the authorship or the “About Us” section of a website usually reveals who is behind the content. Are they biased? Do they know what they’re talking about? What are their intentions?
Check the facts: Is what’s being claimed true? Is the information really accurate? Have other, trustworthy news sources published the same story? Caution is advised with texts that are reduced primarily to the headline and also present a lot of opinion and little substance. If the headline doesn’t yield any results from other reputable media outlets in a search engine, the story is likely fabricated. Research is made easier by specialized fact-checking sites such as Mimikama.at, CORRECTIV, and ARD-Faktenfinder. Simply enter the search term there.
Pay attention to recency: How current is the information? Especially with scientific studies, surveys, or statistics, you need to make sure the information isn’t too outdated and may have long since become obsolete. In search engines, a preset filter that limits the time range of the results can help you find the latest information on a topic.
Examine the image or video closely: What can you see? Where does the image or video come from? Does it look implausible, or has it been taken out of context? Google on a computer is a good tool for reverse image searches. On smartphones and tablets, the TinEye app, for example, can help.
Report misinformation: Most platforms offer the option to report misleading information. Children and teens should also be aware of these reporting options so they can use them when necessary. In addition to the reporting options on the platforms themselves, illegal online content can also be reported at www.jugendschutz.net/verstoss-melden or www.internet-beschwerdestelle.de.
Trusted Support Persons: It is important that children and teens are taught the skills to deal with misinformation and conspiracy theories. However, they should not be left to handle this on their own. Ideally, they will have reliable and competent people in their social circle whom they can turn to for support. In addition, children and adolescents should also be aware of anonymous support services such as“Nummer gegen Kummer”and“JUUUPORT.”
* Please note: Some headlines, such as those from WDR and Tagesschau, were changed after the fact. As of the time this article was written, the old headlines are still indexed and can be found in search engines. This may change in the future.
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