Temu has been taking the world of online shopping by storm. It is now the second most popular e-commerce store in the world. In the U.S., it has surpassed both Amazon and Walmart as the most downloaded e-commerce app.
Temu attracts customers with its low prices and even gifts when you purchase. In 2025, it will be offering customers who reach a specified spending level a free Temu tablet. How can they afford to do that? Is it too good to be true? Is Temu a scam?
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Is Temu Fake?
The short answer is that Temu is not a scam, and it is a legitimate online store. However, there are some things to know before you purchase.
Launched in 2022, Temu has offices in Boston to facilitate working in the United States, but they are not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Moreover, Temu’s parent company, PPD Holdings, is based in Shanghai, China. PDD also owns several other e-commerce sites, such as Pinduoduo, which is Temu for the Chinese market.
Like most other big retailers, Temu allows individual vendors to list their items and take orders and payments through the platform. This means that it does not control the quality of all the products listed on the site.
When it comes to tech products, sellers often list them in a way that suggests a recognized manufacturer, such as HP or Dell, made the item, but they aren’t the real deal. There are companies like Lenovo and Xiaomi that sell their products directly on the site. You can double-check that you are buying from a verified seller because their listings are displayed with a blue tick.
Is It Safe to Buy From Temu?
You should be careful when choosing products on Temu and be aware that some products may not meet the quality that you expect. In addition, there are concerns that Temu gathers data by including spyware in its app. The data it gathers is believed to be passed on to third parties. Considering you have to give Temu access to some personal data and financial information, this is a major concern for many users.
But to millions of users, the app’s payment platform is safe, and they can pay using verified methods such as credit card, Apple Pay, Cash App, and PayPal.
Can You Really Get a Free Tablet From Temu?
To enter the Temu app or website, you automatically spin a game wheel to win products and/or earn discounts. You always win something, and they give you a limited period to complete your purchase to get it. The app designs these “prizes” to encourage you to add more to your cart.
There was a period in 2025 when the offer included a Temu tablet, which many people received, though they did have to purchase more products and pay shipping to receive it. Also, the ad clearly states that the tablet is Android 12 – the most current model is Android 15 – therefore, some apps might not be compatible.
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I have shopped with Temu for a few years now. It’s so much fun. You really have to read what it is and and what you will receive. They will show something and say “1 set”. To me a ‘set’ would be 2 or more but sometimes it really is only 1 item. I love their shoes. They are a great price and the fit is great. I even bought a pair I knew I couldn’t wear because they had stiletto heels but they look so cool on my shoe shelves. Just be careful and read very carefully. Have fun.