Objects stolen during the looting of October 17 resold online, the Vinted platform ensures that it applies “zero tolerance”

“Cheap October 17 makeup”. After the looting of stores on the sidelines of the demonstrations on Saturday October 17, some thieves seem to be reselling their loot on platforms like Vinted or Leboncoin, Internet users noted the same evening.

Screenshots circulated on social networks, showing different products (clothing, makeup, perfumes) resold on platforms like Vinted or Leboncoin, for a fraction of their in-store price. Some descriptions explicitly mentioned the date October 17, and sometimes even claimed the theft.

Many sellers also called to contact them on Snapchat, in order to discuss the sale away from the gaze of Vinted's moderation, noted franceinfo. Some buyers even published announcements encouraging looters to contact them: “please looking for makeup from the 17th”, “looking for clothes or shoes from the 17th”…

These ads disappeared on Monday, without it being possible to know whether they were deleted by the platform or the sellers who were behind them. The resale of stolen items constitutes concealment of theft, an offense which can be punished by five years in prison and a fine of 375,000 euros, points out the service-public.fr site. Platforms like Vinted and Leboncoin also prohibit the sale of illicit items in their conditions of use.

“We actively collaborate with law enforcement”

Contacted by franceinfo, Vinted recalls that “the sale of stolen goods, or their solicitation, is strictly prohibited”, and ensures that it applies “zero tolerance” towards offenders. “Since this weekend, our teams have acted immediately to identify and remove ads that may concern stolen goods, and we have strengthened control of suspicious ads,” says the platform.

“We actively collaborate with law enforcement and French authorities, and we constantly adapt our processes to detect and counter new risks and malicious behavior,” describes Vinted. The site reminds that "in the event of violation of our rules (...) measures against the accounts concerned" are taken, "which may go as far as permanent banning" of the user.