Build Your Site

Temu’s download numbers increased drastically right after it was launched in 2022, according to public data. Because of low prices, many customers found themselves attracted to its products. At the same time, Temu gets a lot of negative feedback on the Internet. As an example, the order has problems since the goods don’t match the description, delivery is late, and some disputes arise regarding privacy and security issues. Many people want to know: Is Temu a scam? Why is its price so low? Are there some fake Temu apps? This article will analyze Temu's operating model, Temu controversy, potential risks, and provide anti-fraud guides and more reliable shopping options.

a scammer uses phishing links to scam people on temu

What is a Temu?

Temu is designed for transactions between different countries through the internet. The special price platform concentrates on supplying shoppers with heavy discounts and home shipment at no extra charge. Behind the scenes is PDD Holdings, which holds China’s e-commerce company Pinduoduo. In general, Temu caters to buyers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It allows Chinese factories to sell their products to buyers from other nations. Temu's low price mainly comes from the following aspects:

It directly connects with Chinese factories, bypassing the traditional brand premium and the layers of price increases by middlemen.
The platform seizes users through subsidies and market investment. For example, early registration sends large coupons, and group play can get lower prices.
The platform implements light inventory operations and does not stock up on a lot of goods. It is shipped by merchants based on user orders. This can save storage costs.

However, this seemingly "cost-effective" model also leaves a lot of problems. Certain products face long delivery durations, and the quality is affected by other products. In the next section, we will talk about the question "Is Temu a scam?" and mention the different scam types.

Is Temu a Scam？

Is Temu a scam? The answer is definitely no, Temu is a legal platform where you can shop safely and securely. The company running it is legal, and it provides mechanisms such as refunding orders and offering customer support to users. It remains obvious that many issues raise questions about Temu. Several controversial cases are a result of the platform’s way of operating, but some are the fault of fraudulent sellers who exploit loopholes on the network.

For instance, a lot of people noted that the things they got from Temu did not look as impressive as they did in the advertisements. Most of the products have rough material and quality. There were cases when people received goods that were not what they had ordered. In case you are not happy with your order, you may request a refund from the platform. But returning your money may require waiting for a long time.

the scammer gains illegal profits on e-commerce platforms

Image by Istock

According to the Wall Street Journal in 2023, Temu’s sellers sometimes used designers’ pictures to advertise their products, but sent fake ones to buyers. At that time, there was a surge of ACCC (a consumer group) complaints from people in Australia. According to them, Temu fools customers with phony sales that are only available for a short time. According to a report aired in France, Temu’s system for giving rewards is unfair. People find it very hard to obtain the promised funds.

If you are unfortunately deceived, take pictures of your order, the thing you got, and all your messages with customer service. Thereafter, tell the platform about your concern and reach out to your payment service provider, such as PayPal or your credit card company. If you find that a product is unsafe or a fake, you can reach out to groups in the U.S., including the FDA and the CPSC. In the next section, we will tell you about 7 typical scams so you can prepare better for them.

7 Common Temu Scams and How to Avoid Them

After figuring out the question "Is Temu a scam?", we can know that although Temu itself is a formal platform, third-party sellers and external scammers often take advantage of regulatory loopholes to set up scams. Understanding these common Temu scams and preventive measures can help you shop safely and avoid loss of property and personal information.

hackers are creating fake websites to lure users to click

Image by Istock

Fake Orders

There are merchants who lure buyers by selling popular electronic devices and counterfeit recognized goods at very reduced prices. During the transaction, they give false logistics order numbers or send counterfeit products, but they never arrive. Often, the goods arrive and seem counterfeit.

How to Avoid Temu Scams:

Preferentially choose stores with real buyers' shows. Avoid new stores with names like "Shop_123" that have no ratings.
Use disputed payment methods such as credit cards/PayPal. Avoid direct bank card transfers.
Record an unboxing video when receiving the goods as evidence for rights protection.
Be wary of obviously low-priced and abnormal products (such as "iPhone" priced at $59).

Fake Customer Service

Temu scammers try to contact users claiming to be customer support and reach them through messaging or phone calls. Phishers say something is wrong with the user’s order or account and encourage them to give out verification codes, bank card numbers, login details, and any other information that might be required. Normally, text messages from cybercriminals are very direct, provoking urgency among users and leading them to input sensitive data.

How to Avoid Temu Scams:

Official customer service will only communicate through the "My-Contact Customer Service" channel in the app.
Be wary of all requests for SMS verification codes and payment passwords.
Check the sender's email address. Real customer service only uses email addresses with the temu official website suffix.

To check the website's safety, click the article: ⬇️

6 Best Website Safety Checkers to Protect Your Own

Fake Temu app

Some fake Temu apps that look like Temu are now available in the market. Most of the time, these apps are advertised through community apps or similar pages. Upon downloading and installing these programs, some users may be tricked into providing personal data and suffer from having their accounts stolen, or their bank cards might be attacked. Some phoney apps will secretly get your data and display harmful ads in various places.

How to Avoid Fake Temu Apps:

Download only from official channels such as Google Play/Apple App Store.
During installation, check if the developer is "Whaleco Inc" (Temu's parent company).
Refuse the app to request unnecessary permissions such as contacts and text messages.

Temu Shopping Cashback

People are usually lured into this scam by promises of cashback for shopping. It says that shopping at Temu lets users get high discounts. With these fake cashback websites or mini-programs, scammers direct users to enter order numbers and their credit card details. There are cases where scammers collect money as a fee and disappear the moment you lose your funds in the account.

How to Avoid:

Check the hidden terms in the event details (such as withdrawal fees, validity period).
Search for keywords such as "Temu cash withdrawal" on social media to see other people's experiences.
Never trust cashback activities from unknown sources. If Temu has official cashback activities, it will usually be clearly announced through the App homepage or notifications.
Do not enter order or account information on unfamiliar web pages, especially pages involving payment operations.

unauthorized persons are decrypting user information

Image by Istock

Virtual Gift Card

People are often persuaded to take part in scams that use “Temu virtual gift card” as the name. Although it looks simple, the actual function is to collect users’ information, make them install viruses, encourage them to buy extra things, or convince them to sign up for costly services.

How to Avoid Temu Controversy:

Official gift cards are only sold through the official website, and there is no "free gift" activity.
Do not scan QR codes of unknown origin.
If the card password has been leaked, contact the official customer service immediately to freeze the balance.

Temu Affiliate Link Scams

Temu affiliate program is designed to motivate users to share links and get commissions. Still, people who use these services might open a fake link and get infected with a virus. After clicking on these links, users may end up on unsafe sites or have to give away important details such as account passwords and verification numbers. Certain schemes pretend to represent staff, urging users to aid the promotion by feeding them with a lot of user data.

How to Avoid Temu Controversy:

Formal affiliate programs are only applied for through the Temu official website.
Reject any pre-charge requirements.
Be wary of "exclusive cooperation opportunities" on channels such as Telegram/WhatsApp.

Phishing Links

The most popular type of Temu scam is phishing with links. Using SMS, emails, or social media, scammers pretend to contact users about “package lost”, “order not normal”, or “expected prize”, asking them to click and fill in their data when they send the message. After their details are submitted, users’ accounts, ID numbers, and bank card details may be taken, and the losses can be substantial.

How to Avoid Temu Controversy:

All logistics issues are only verified through the logistics tracking page in the Temu app.
Check whether the URL is the official domain name of Temu.
Immediately delete SMS/emails requesting payment information.

4 Alternatives to Temu for Safe Shopping

Users appreciate Temu because of its very affordable goods. However, in the actual shopping process, users often face problems such as unstable product quality and frequent false information. In order to obtain a safer and more reliable shopping experience, consumers should make sure that they shop at online stores that provide after-sales help and stock quality items. The following will introduce several widely recognized Temu alternative platforms for consumers' reference. This way, you don't need to wonder about the question "Is temu a scam?"

Platform	Key Advantages	Target Users	Buyer Protection & Quality Control	Costs & Fees
eBay	Wide product variety, auction & fixed price	Consumers & Sellers	Strong buyer protection, seller ratings	High listing fees and commission, profit erosion
Amazon	Robust logistics, fast delivery, reliable CS	Consumers & Sellers	Strict quality control, easy returns	High fees, fulfillment costs, cuts into margin
Alibaba	Bulk buying, supplier certification	Wholesale buyers	Trade assurance, dispute arbitration	Variable costs, high minimum order quantity
Traditional Website Development	Direct brand control, product transparency	Brand owners & SMEs	Higher authenticity, flexible logistics options	Varies, often high setup and maintenance costs
Build Websites with Wegic	AI-powered website building, multi-language support, easy integration	SMEs & Individual Brands	Brand-owned site with full control	Only $23.9/month, no commissions or hidden fees

What is a Temu?

It directly connects with Chinese factories, bypassing the traditional brand premium and the layers of price increases by middlemen.
The platform seizes users through subsidies and market investment. For example, early registration sends large coupons, and group play can get lower prices.
The platform implements light inventory operations and does not stock up on a lot of goods. It is shipped by merchants based on user orders. This can save storage costs.

Is Temu a Scam？

Image by Istock