Complex puzzles and illicit patterns: Anti-Money Laundering and Risk Operations at Vinted Pay

What makes it different to traditional banking is the sheer scale of its operations. In a marketplace where millions of low-value transactions take place every day, a customer's journey starts on the marketplace rather than on the payments platform itself. The team needs to account for additional risk factors, like item listings, and build a user profile from a diverse set of puzzle pieces. With a different money flow, bad actors have to be creative as they attempt to exploit Vinted for their benefit.

Solving complex puzzles by viewing customer behaviour

From detecting individuals selling counterfeit goods and preventing innocent buyers from losing money to fake items, to detecting unusual patterns that might indicate money mules, the AML & Risk Operations team's dynamic work covers many different scenarios.

By using information from customers' behaviour on our platform, such as what items they buy or sell, and who's buying from them, the team is able to build a profile and see whether it matches any suspicions they might have. Not only do they need to check where and from whom money goes, but also the story behind it and whether it makes sense.

For example, a newly registered user with no history suddenly uploads 5 high-value luxury items. They receive instant purchases from different countries, and request an immediate payout, but no standard automated transaction limits are breached. Are they a legitimate first-time luxury seller, or a highly sophisticated money-laundering mule?

Another scenario: a fraud ring uses 50 low-value accounts to send and receive small payments that stay below daily AML alert thresholds. Individually, the accounts look low risk. Together, the behaviour suggests coordinated structuring. Are there any behavioral, transactional, and network signals that can be correlated to expose the wider network?

Or, if a member is flagged during screening because their name partially matches a sanctioned individual, their documents are valid, the transaction value is moderate, and we don't want to create any unnecessary customer friction. How can we determine if this is a false positive, or a true sanctions risk

With every day comes different items and unusual listings. The team must take action or make decisions accordingly to ensure they meet all requirements and keep our members safe and happy.

Managing financial crime prevention across different jurisdictions

One of the main challenges of operating within a global Electronic Money Institution is managing financial crime prevention across different countries.

Akvilė believes working across jurisdictions provides a wider view of regulations and their influence on AML operations. Learning new approaches and broadening her understanding of the financial crimes our platform might face supports her professional growth and helps her understand how regulations are applied in different markets.

For Mantas, operating in different markets with multiple layers of complexity is a balancing act. On one hand, they need to be compliant across regulatory requirements and risk levels. On the other, they must keep the process aligned, efficient, and consistent.

In contrast to a more traditional culture of "box-ticking" or rigid corporate bureaucracy, Akvilė and Mantas are directly co-creating and influencing process changes and AML culture at Vinted. A lot of thought and care goes into building the process and applying the necessary regulations.

The collaborative and cross-functional nature of working in a C2C marketplace

Across Vinted, we have a shared goal: make our platform a safe environment for people to buy and sell as easily as possible. Different teams work together towards this goal, and prepare for every outcome when new regulatory rules emerge.

Within the team, the collaborative culture is just as strong. With a solid support system, people are encouraged to ask questions, take ownership, and trust their own decisions from day one.

"We strive for an open, collaborative environment where people aren't afraid to ask questions or make mistakes while learning" – Akvilė

Mentoring goes both ways. For juniors, mentorship offers a safe space to ask questions and learn from more experienced colleagues. For seniors, it's a chance to develop management skills like training and effective communication.
Since we're growing quickly, new joiners are onboarded in groups and form close bonds thanks to a shared starting experience. Akvilė describes the team as a welcoming, friendly group with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences in AML and beyond. They connect through virtual chats about their days (and pets) and team-building events, where they relax and spend time together. When you feel comfortable with your team and know your colleagues have your back, it's much easier to say when you're overwhelmed and need support.

Current roles within the team

Akvilė and Mantas are looking to expand their team in line with our growth, hiring both Analysts and Specialists.

• Analysts are responsible for initial and ongoing customer base screening reviews, resolution of potential matches against global sanctions, alerts generated for politically exposed individuals who hold prominent public positions (PEPs), and adverse media lists.
• Specialists (which Analysts can also grow into) cover a broader range of tasks, from customer verification to deep-dive checks for high-risk customers (EDD), and reporting suspicious activity.

Interested, but unsure if your experience matches up? Don't discount the idea. If you're curious to learn, pay sharp attention to detail, and have a genuine interest in AML, we would love to hear from you – even if you don't come from a traditional banking background.