Retail: Auction sites must create a blacklist for fraudsters

According to Detailhandel Nederland, criminals massively use auction sites to sell their stolen goods. The retailer’s organization advocates the creation of a blacklist to curb criminal activities.

Detailhandel Nederland states that 1.4 billion euros worth of goods was stolen in shops in the past year. Many of these goods, consciously or unknowingly, would be bought by healers, with extensive use of auction sites, thus the industry association.

Detailhandel Nederland states that a national blacklist must be drawn up, so that auction sites can keep out criminal traders. For example, it must be prevented that thieves can sell their stolen goods online. Incidentally, the retailers’ organization states that this should also apply to gold buyers and black markets. “Black markets and auction sites are obliged to carry out extra supervision themselves,” according to Detailhandel Nederland. “This starts with introducing and complying with an identification requirement for all professional traders in these types of markets.”

Auction sites that do not take enough measures to keep criminal traders away should be closed, according to Detailhandel Nederland. “If it turns out that black markets, auction sites and gold buyers repeatedly prove to be a platform for healers and take insufficient measures, they must be closed by the authorities.” To this end, the organization wants the law to be amended so that it becomes easier to take measures against auction sites that do not do enough to make it more difficult for criminals to act.