French police probe claims Vinted is being used for child trafficking
French authorities are investigating allegations of child trafficking on second-hand resale platform Vinted after a series of allegedly sexually coded listings appeared on the site.
Users began spotting unusual listings for old toys, including plushies and baby dolls, being sold for unusually high prices.
Alongside the photos and inflated price tags, many claimed to have identified what they described as sexually coded language in the item descriptions.
Videos compiled by content creators showing screenshots of the listings quickly went viral, prompting France's High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry, to refer the posts to the authorities for investigation.
One post shared by a user on social media shows a photo of a lamp priced at $6000. The description reads: '15 female. Quiet. Submissive. Shy.' The condition is listed as 'satisfactory.'
Another post shows a stuffed bunny priced at €1,000, described as '3 years old and female' with a height of 91 cm and a weight of 13kg. It further adds 'Small, blonde, blue eyes, obedient girl.'
A third post shows a baby doll priced at $1,700 described as a 'preemie' while a fourth shows an Etch A Sketch priced at €6,000.
The post describes the item as 13, shy, anxious and noisy.
One post shared by a user on social media shows a photo of a lamp priced at $6000
Another post shows a stuffed bunny priced at €1,000, described as '3 years old and female'
A third post shows a baby doll priced at $1,700 described as a 'preemie'
A police unit specialising in minors is leading the probe. Writing on social media, El Haïry said: 'You can never be too careful.'
'I would rather see a strict precautionary principle applied than a single child left at the mercy of their abusers.
'The truth must be established without any taboos. Platforms have a responsibility: no space should be a hunting ground for predators.'
Meanwhile, Vinted, based in Lithuania, have said that their investigations have found no credible evidence of child trafficking on the platform.
The resale site added that they were taking action to remove fake listings that had been created deliberately to 'fuel this conversation'.
Vinted told Agence France-Presse in a statement that the listings referred to the age group the toys were intended for, adding that the unusually high prices reflected 'either genuine collector's value, or provocative behaviour, or bargaining tactics'.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Vinted said: 'German police, independent fact-checker Mimikama and our own internal investigation have found no credible evidence of child trafficking on Vinted.
'We are removing deliberately faked and 'trap' listings and taking action on the accounts involved, including bans.
'We will continue to investigate and collaborate with the relevant authorities as they conduct their own investigation.'
Vinted was embroiled in a similar controversy in 2023 after children's clothing was listed for unusually high prices, prompting speculation that the platform was being used to conceal a child sex trafficking ring.
And in 2025, they once again found themselves surrounded by scandal after France launched an inquiry due to users reporting that some sellers were using the site to promote their OnlyFans pages.
Users also claimed some were selling sexually explicit content through listings showcasing swimwear or lingerie.
The content was accessible to minors, and was flagged by Ms El Haïry, since Vinted does not have age verification.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
