Is Temu legit or a scam? Details you should know before placing your first order

I've seen ads about Temu everywhere in the last few months. And, you know, seeing something again and again sparks curiosity to try it. So, last week, I downloaded Temu to my iPhone. 

They made me spin a wheel, and I won a 100% voucher. I spun again and won another 100% voucher. I did this five times and won five 100% vouchers. Is this real?

I was also surprised, excited, and suspicious. I noticed that every product on the website in every category was too cheap. I stopped right away and typed ‘Is Temu legit?’ on Google. I read a lot of review articles and Reddit posts. I even talked to my friends about it and got mixed answers.

In this article, I’ll share everything I discovered about Temu. Like is Temu real? Is Temu a legit site? Is Temu safe? Let’s break it down ⬇️

So, what is Temu?

Temu is an online shopping megastore with a website and an app. It’s making buzz around the world because of its heavily discounted products. Almost any product you can imagine is probably on Temu for less than $10. These low prices, big bargains, and insane discounts make many shoppers ask: Is Temu safe to order from?

The biggest concern: Is Temu safe?

First, Temu is a legitimate online shopping platform owned by PDD Holdings, a Shanghai-based Chinese company. However, it isn’t accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a standard often sought by major retailers. 

Also, the website has endless customer feedback pointing towards poor-quality items, fake brands, and duplicate products. I noticed that many tech items on the website look like they are from Dell or HP but are not authentic. Only sellers with a blue tick with their listings are verified as official brands by Temu.

Data privacy is another concern with Temu. Is Temu a safe site to share your data with?

What data Temu collects?

I read Temu’s description on the App Store and saw a list of data it may collect:

• Purchases
• Financial info
• Location
• Contact info
• User content
• Search history
• Identifiers
• Usage data
• App diagnostics

While nothing is suspicious here, and all online retailers gather the same data, you should know that Temu has been repeatedly accused of privacy violations. 

What are the risks of Temu website and app??

Before you click that "Place Order" button on Temu, just remember there are some risks to keep in mind. There are worries about data privacy, security issues, and those sneaky hidden costs. Knowing what to look out for can help you shop smarter and safer. So, check out these facts before you dive into those tempting deals:

• Temu shares data with third parties (more on this later)
• Temu's app has been suspected as spyware for the Chinese Communist Party.
• A US Select Committee got possible evidence of Temu being involved in forced labor.
• Buying poor quality or counterfeit products.

Does Temu steal or sell your data?

Maybe! While there have been no major data leaks reported against Temu, warnings from shoppers put Temu’s security into doubt. As I mentioned, Temu collects a lot of data about its users. In addition, cybersecurity experts suggest that Temu potentially extracts information through users’ profiles, such as photographs, shopping behavior, interests, social media profiles, and even government IDs. Data breaches, which are so common these days, could expose this data to hackers and scammers.

Also, Temu's privacy policy states that Temu does not sell your data. But, it shares the information with shipping affiliates, marketing providers, and third-party advertising, marketing, and analytics companies for different reasons. This is standard practice for many e-commerce platforms, but users should be cautious about how broadly their data might be shared.

Another common concern is…

Is Temu safe to use credit cards?

Temu says (on its official website) that it uses advanced socket layer (SSL) technology and complies with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) to protect your card information. But, there have been many reports and warnings from people noticing unfamiliar transactions on their credit cards after use on Temu. 

How can I check if the Temu app has leaked my details?

I don’t think there is any good way to check this. But, there are signs indicating your data has been compromised, for example:

• Receiving password reset requests you didn’t initiate 
• Getting an uptick in spam emails, text messages, phone calls
• Unusual credit card transactions. 

By the time you notice these signs, it might be too late. So, take every preventive measure to avoid being scammed or becoming a victim of data leaks. 

Personal experience: I’m lucky to be a Mac user. It has many built-in security features that keep my data safe from unauthorized access. But, manually checking whether every feature is ON can be exhausting, and it’s easy to miss some of these settings.

But that’s not a concern for me because I use Pareto Security. The app can quickly check if I’ve utilized all security solutions available on my Mac. In case I forget to turn on any feature on the app’s checklist, it will spot it and highlight it in orange circles. Awesome, no?

To use Pareto:

1. Install and open Pareto.
2. Click on the Pareto icon in the menu bar.
3. Here, you’ll see a list of security settings. The ones marked with green are alright, as are the ones with orange — you need to fix them. 
4. If you click on one of the “orange” features (those that require security setup), it’ll direct you to the fix page, where you can find out how to fix the issue.

How to avoid data leaks

The following pieces of advice could prevent or minimize the risk of data leaks not only on Temu but on any platform online:

• Use an alias or secondary email for to protect your main email account from cyber threats.

• Create a strong, unique password and store it securely in a password manager. To do this, I use Secrets 4, a fantastic password manager for Macs and iPhones. In fact, the app locks up your credit card details, files, and other sensitive information protected with 256-bit encryption. It can also create strong passwords that will be remembered by you. 

• Use a virtual digital credit card with a number different from your original credit card. You’ll be safe even if your card details fall into the wrong hands because a virtual card becomes invalid after a single use.

• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your accounts. But make sure you use a trusted and proven tool to enable 2FA. If you ask me, I suggest Step Two. The app makes setting up and managing 2FA on multiple accounts easier. It uses iCloud to automatically sync two-step codes across all your available macOS and iOS devices. And the Safari extension lets you autofill the codes for faster and more secure login.

• Carefully review Temu vendors and their ratings. Avoid vendors with minimal or mostly negative reviews. Only choose sellers with a blue badge with their listings.

• Be cautious when granting permissions to the Temu app and website to limit the data you're sharing with it. Otherwise, you might get malware infected. To avoid this, use CleanMyMac. It’s great for app malware protection as it scans all your Mac and detects potentials threats that you can remove instantly.

• Hide your IP address while browsing, or in short, use a VPN for private browsing to stop web trackers. My most trusted VPN tool is ClearVPN, which makes it super easy to switch between different locations. ClearVPN uses the industry-standard encryption AES-256 which is trusted by financial organization, so you can be sure in your online safety. Small tip: You can also change your geolocation to check out local prices in a particular country.

Why is Temu controversial?

From poor customer service, undelivered packages, and inexplicable charges, Temu has reportedly received 3000+ complaints to the Better Business Bureau and currently has a BBB customer rating of less than 3 stars.

Some experts from different countries warn against using products sold on Temu because they possibly contain harmful substances such as phthalate plasticizers, lead, and cadmium.

The internet is flooded with such controversies against Temu. 

Is Temu safe and legit: The verdict

The issues with Temu apply to any online store, including even the big ones like Amazon and Alibaba. As informed shoppers, it’s up to us to stay vigilant when using the internet, especially when it requires your personal information. So, to stay extra protected form any possible threats use the following:

• Pareto Security to instantly checck all your security settings from the menu bar.
• Secrets 4 to store and manage passwords and sensitive information securely.
• Step Two to do 2FA safe and quick
• CleanMyMac to stay protected form any malware.
• ClearVPN to safely hide your IP address while browsing

With these powerful apps you can enjoy safe browsing and online shopping. You can get started with these (and 250+ more) apps on Setapp with a 7-day free trial, so you don’t have to try them separately. 

FAQ:

Are Temu free products legit?

Temu's free products are legitimate, but they are usually low-cost items offered as part of referral programs or promotions. 

Is Temu a scam?

It’s safe to say that Temu is not a scam. But scammers haven't gone unnoticed by its success. As with Amazon and other big online shopping sites, scammers can exploit its popularity, success, and large customer base. Stay vigilant when shopping online on any website and use a high-encrypted VPN like ClearVPN.

How do I know if a scammer texte me?

Being aware of the most common Temu scams. These includes:

• Temu emails scams: Fake emails promising discounts or free products.
• Fake Temu gift card promotions: Popular on social media platforms.
• Temu affiliate link scams: Tricking people into clicking a dangerous link showing enticing images of cash or luxury items.
• Temu counterfeits: Even a "verification badge" is not foolproof.
• Temu Xbox scams: Flooding Xbox users with false promises of free gift cards.
• Temu customer service impersonators: Scammers posing as Temu customer service representatives.

Is Temu a Chinese company?

Temu is owned by PDD Holdings, a Chinese e-commerce company. While Temu says the company was founded in Boston in 2022, PDD is based in Shanghai, China.

Why is Temu so cheap?

Temu is so cheap because it sources the products directly from manufacturers, cutting down on middlemen's costs. It also maintains a low profit margin and often slashes tariffs by shipping small packages that are subject to "de minimis" import exemption.

Is it safe to order from Temu?

Temu is as safe to order from as other online stores. But you should still be aware of the risks, like items lost in transit, stolen from your doorstep, or broken or poor-quality items, and particularly be cautious about how Temu handles your data. To stay protected online, use ClearVPN.