Inside the creepy world of Depop where sellers are targeted by ‘creepy men asking for used underwear and nudes’
WOMEN using Depop to sell second-hand clothes say they are regularly targeted by creepy men sending lewd messages.
The strangers request naked pictures, old underwear, and even sexual intercourse with the women, who are simply trying to sell clothing and accessories.
Alice Ipsen, 28, from London, uses Depop to sell a range of tops, jewellery and sometimes high-end underwear, which she said encourages swathes of grim sexual messages.
“If I’m selling anything with a crotch, like a bodysuit, underwear, or shorts I often get asked if it’s used and can they pay extra for it to be used,” she said.
Ipsen added: “I have really pale skin so I sometimes get remarks about that.
“One person messaged me: ‘your skin is so milky and creamy and pale.’ It was so creepy”.
Where a few years ago she might have responded with a clever retort.
But she said that she now avoids engaging with the men after an incident with one user led to her account being disabled for six weeks.
She said: “You get absolutely sick of people sending these messages. One day I replied to a guy and I said ‘This isn’t pervypantysniffers.com’.
“I think Depop saw that and thought I was using the account inappropriately.”
In response to these claims, a spokesperson for Depop said: “Miss Ipsen’s account was suspended in error and we’re very sorry about the disruption to her account, which has now been reinstated.
“Following review, we have taken action to avoid this happening again.”
Dm Drama, an Instagram page with over half a million followers, is dedicated to posting users’ funny interactions on the shopping app.
However, its founder told the Sun that more than 20 per cent of its weekly submissions now involve women or girls being perved on.
Screenshots of conversations show men asking women if “they would like a sugar daddy” or “if they wanna exchange nudes”.
One user even used the app to tell a woman that he was “horny” and needed to pleasure himself.
But for Ipsen, her biggest concern is the app’s popularity with young girls, who she worries are particularly vulnerable to this kind of abuse.
She said: “So many people on Depop are students selling stuff really cheaply because they’re desperate for money.”
Users can be as young as 13 to buy or sell on the app, though Depop’s rules insist those under 18 will need a parent or guardian’s permission to do so.
One user, who did not want to disclose her name, said she was offered £100 when she was 16 to send dirty underwear to one man.
“I didn’t do it thankfully, but I was young and it seemed like a lot of money so I considered it,” she said.
Just last month, aged 19, she was asked to send a picture of herself in a bra and tartan skirt.
She said: “it made me feel sick knowing the amount of men fantasising over young girls in school uniform”.
Depop’s spokesperson said: “We take all potential instances or reports of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously at Depop, and take action against any users who breach our policies”.