Advertisements for toys with unusually high prices and references to children’s ages, heights or sizes prompted French authorities to open an investigation. Vinted says he found no evidence of a link to child trafficking.
France opened an investigation after social media users raised the alarm unusual ads on the second-hand resale app Vinted, which they suspect may be linked to child trafficking.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of Nanterre, west of Paris, confirmed to AFP, on Friday night, that a preliminary investigation.
Internet users reported ads on the platform that they considered suspicious because they offered toys or items of seemingly low value to astronomical prices, including ages and sizes that could correspond to those of small children.
Many of the ads featured prices in the thousands of eurosaccompanied by descriptions that referred to children’s ages, heights or clothing sizes.
The case gained momentum on social media, especially on TikTok. “See this, supposedly a Harry Potter figure on sale for 30,000 euros“, said a content creator in a video that has received more than 112,000 likes since mid-June.
For the author of the video, “the price raises many questions“, as well as “the details… a height of 1.58 meters, 13 years old”, which, in his opinion, point to “a code system linked to child trafficking activity”.
The French High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Hairysaid on Tuesday that it had reported “the existence of accounts suspected of being involved in child trafficking on Vinted”. The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not specify whether any of these allegations proved to be founded.
Several sellers flagged by social media users told AFP that they were actually selling toys.
Questioned by AFP, Vinted said it was “aware of the advertisements currently circulating online” and stated that, “based on our investigation, we have not found any evidence that allows them to be linked to child trafficking activities“.
The company stated that “the age indicated in these advertisements refers to the age group for which the toy is intended”, and that high prices may reflect “real value of collection, or provocation or negotiation strategies“, he added.
Vinted further said that “does not tolerate any inappropriate contento” and which intervenes when a suspicious advertisement is identified, cooperating with the police when necessary.
