Fake child sale ads appear on clothing platform Vinted

A popular clothing and second-hand marketplace, Vinted, has become host to ads appearing to offer children for sale, with the posts also circulating widely on social media, exposing minors to the content.

One such listing, headlined “Three years old, girl, obedient,” was posted alongside an image of a stuffed toy. The ads, which often include explicit sexual references, have been seen by users including 16-year-old Shahin Mohammad Rafi, who said he was shocked to encounter them on a platform he uses daily.

Vinted, headquartered in Lithuania, told Danish broadcaster DR that it removes such content quickly and encourages users to report suspicious listings. The company said its own investigation concluded the ads are fake, a view shared by Denmark’s National Special Crime Unit (NSK), which noted that German police have issued similar warnings.

Authorities and child protection groups believe the ads may be a scam targeting paedophiles, either to identify or extort them. Both police and Save the Children Denmark stress that there is no evidence real children are being sold.

Save the Children’s SletDet helpline offers support to those affected, while TikTok told DR it removes and investigates such content, prioritising youth safety.