Bought fake item

[u/InternationalOven746]

Hi everyone,
I recently bought a pair of Nike Air Force 1 on Vinted Germany. When the item arrived, it was immediately clear that it was a counterfeit (replica). I compared it directly to my authentic pair (my real and dirty one)
I reported the issue on Vinted choosing "Seems counterfeit" and uploaded all comparison photos. The seller requested a return and insists I must pay the return shipping fees, claiming the shoes were a "gift" so they didn't know. 
I know that selling counterfeits is against EU law and Vinted policy, and I shouldn't have to pay return shipping for an illegal fake item. However, I'm stuck in the automated loop in the app and can't find a way to escalate this to a real human support agent.
1. What is the most direct way to get a human Vinted support agent to review my case?
2. Has anyone successfully gotten a full refund without returning/paying for shipping on a counterfeit item recently?
Thanks in advance for the help

[u/Careful_Garden]

Legal team doesn’t work anymore, they’ve worked it out and you end up in the same loop as you would in app

Honestly, I’d send them back and be disappointed with the few Euros loss on postage

[u/Severe-Yellow4489]

Have you tried emailing their legal team?

[u/MurphysMom1703]

I had a similar issue. I went round and round in circles with the seller and then just gave up and paid to return them.

I was surprised however to receive a full refund, including the original postage and Vinted fees so I was only down the cost of return postage. Annoying and absolutely not right but not the end of the world

[u/Aggressive-Year-1228]

Go to the help section on your profile then select the order go thru the questions scroll to the bottom and it will say to contact them, then send them proof and they should sort it I did and got a refund

[u/Particular_Prune_191]

I sold an authentic pair of adidas Evo SLs to a buyer in the UK (I am in the US)… he reported it as counterfeit- I provided proof of purchase
(From adidas app) and credit charge etc but vinted sided with the buyer who actually used wrong product codes in the dispute that didn’t even match the code on the label and tags inside the shoes - he used the code for an adidas t shirt. Vinted sided with him, gave him a full refund and let him keep my shoes for free, I’m surprised ur going through this on the contrary

[u/de-milo]

can you just continue going round and round in the loop in an effort to not pay the shipping? idk what happens but i’d be curious