Top 15 Temu Scams To Be Aware Of In 2023
A recent surge in Temu scams has been observed around the popular e-commerce platform. The website temu.com facilitates various transactions but, unfortunately, has become a breeding ground for unscrupulous individuals seeking to deceive buyers and sellers.
Let's unveil the 15 most common Temu scams, shedding light on how these scams work and providing essential tips to shield yourself from falling victim. But first, let's look a little deeper into what Temu is.
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What is Temu
Temu.com is an online marketplace for shopping that offers a wide range of products, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, home decor, electronics, pet supplies, sports equipment, and toys. It operates through a mobile app and a website, providing customers a convenient platform to browse and purchase items from various merchants and manufacturers.
While Temu.com is a legitimate platform for online shopping (see Temu reviews), there have been some concerns and negative reviews regarding the website. Some individuals have raised issues about scams and fraudulent practices associated with Temu.com. Everything from poor quality products to customer service.
Watch the video below to see a Top 7 Temu scams expose and read below for many more:
15 Temu Scams: How They Work And How To Stay Clear
Here is a list of 15 most prevalent Temu scams or fraudulent activities that go around the platform:
1. The Phantom Merchandise Scam
Victims are lured in by attractive deals on products that seem too good to be true. After payment, the promised items never arrive. A frustrated user shared, as you can see in the screenshot below, “Items didn't arrive. Any company with so many almost identical reviews (just read the 5* reviews – so many follow a standard, repeatable pattern) is a BIG concern. Family members I know have used Temu and never recurved items.”
Prevention Tip: Always research the seller's reputation and read reviews before purchasing. Use secure payment methods that offer buyer protection.
On the same token, watch out for the Temu Pallets Scam.
2. The Temu Escrow Impersonation
Scammers pose as Temu.com support, advising buyers to deposit funds in a so-called “escrow” account to secure their purchase. The money disappears, and so does the scammer. One user ranted, “The support team scammed me! They vanished after I deposited $500!”. Little did he know scammers impersonated the platform's staff.
Prevention Tip: Verify communications with Temu.com through official channels, and never send money outside the platform. Report any suspicious requests to customer support.
3. The Counterfeit Product Scheme
Fraudsters sell imitation or counterfeit goods, passing them off as genuine products. As you can see in the screenshot below, a disgruntled buyer called Gary Crosby exclaimed, “Items are extremely cheap Chinese junk, rubbish. One T-shirt I bought is very nice, but considering my overall outlay, it didn't work out cheaper as they only allowed me to return one item from each order. Never again, lesson learned. You get what you pay for…if you're lucky”.
Prevention Tip: Scrutinize product listings for authenticity markers, such as official logos, warranties, and user reviews. Be wary of deals that seem too cheap for the real thing.
Watch the video below showing a warning about Temu scams:
4. The Identity Theft Trap
Cybercriminals impersonate Temu.com representatives and request personal information under the guise of account verification. A concerned user emailed Scam Detector claiming that someone was pretending to be from Temu.com and asked for her credit card details for confirmation.
Prevention Tip: Never share sensitive information like passwords or financial details via email or messages. Verify any requests for personal data by contacting Temu.com directly through their official channels.
5. The Non-Delivery Payment Scam
Sellers insist on direct payments outside Temu.com's platform, citing lower fees. Buyers send money, and the products never arrive. A frustrated customer shared, “I paid via bank transfer and received an empty package!”
Prevention Tip: Conduct transactions solely through the platform's secure payment methods. These protect against fraud and non-delivery.
6. Temu Payment Bypass Scam
Fraudsters convince buyers to transact off the platform, claiming it will save money by avoiding the fee. They take payments via untraceable methods, leaving buyers with no recourse if scammed.
Prevention Tip: Only use Temu.com's official system. Double-check the URL and ensure it's a legitimate site before making payments.
7. The Temu Fake Review Swindle
Criminals post glowing reviews for their own products or negative reviews for competitors. A wary shopper warned, “The reviews were fantastic, but the product went to the bin in the end,” says a customer called Claire.
Prevention Tip: Cross-reference reviews with other sources. Look for consistency in language and details. Suspiciously generic or overly positive reviews can be red flags.
8. The Overpayment Con
Buyers receive a check for an amount greater than the purchase price, with the seller requesting a refund of the excess amount. The check bounces, leaving the buyer in debt.
Prevention Tip: Be cautious of overpayment requests. Confirm the check's legitimacy with your bank before taking any further action.
9. The Charity Scam
Scammers exploit emotions by posing as charitable organizations associated with Temu.com, soliciting donations for bogus causes. Another website reader claimed he donated to a charity, thinking he was affiliated with Temu.com, but it was a scam.
Prevention Tip: Verify the legitimacy of any charity or cause by contacting Temu.com directly. Avoid donating through unsolicited messages. However, the best way to see if a website is legit or not is by using our website validator tool below. Type in the domain name you want to search or keep reading:
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Are you just about to make a purchase online? See if the website is legit with our validator:
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10. The Temu Refund Issue
Many people complained that Temu's refunds are almost impossible to get. Here is a review from someone called Amna; see below in the screenshot. “Don't buy anything from them; it's very, very hard to have a refund they kept on lying; the parcel has not been received in the warehouse. Even if you share the pictures, it will not affect you.”
11. The Clone Temu Website Trick
Fraudsters set up websites with names similar to Temu.com to trick users into divulging personal and financial information. A victim exclaimed, “I entered my credit card info on a fake site that looked just like Temu.com!”
Prevention Tip: Always double-check the website's URL before entering sensitive information. Temu.com's official website should have a secure connection (https) and correct spelling.
12. The Temu Tech Support Deception
Scammers pose as Temu.com's tech support, offering assistance for alleged account issues. They gain access to accounts and steal personal information. Some claim they fell for a tech support scam and lost account access.
Prevention Tip: Temu.com's official support will never ask for your password or personal information. Contact support directly through verified channels.
13. The Job Opportunity Hoax
Criminals promise lucrative job opportunities related to Temu.com, requesting an upfront fee for training or materials.
Prevention Tip: Research job offers thoroughly. Legitimate employers don't usually ask for payment upfront.
14. The Prize Winner Scam
Users receive messages claiming they've won prizes or giveaways on Temu.com but must pay a fee to claim them. Some were told they won a gift card but had to pay for shipping first. In reality, the fake website was not even close to temu.com.
Prevention Tip: Legitimate giveaways don't require payment to claim prizes. Verify such notifications directly through Temu.com's official channels.
15. The Investment Mirage
Scammers promise high returns on investments in Temu.com ventures, enticing users to part with their money. While this scam is not too prevalent, it happened to a Twitter user who complained about it on social media.
Prevention Tip: Be cautious of unsolicited investment opportunities. Research thoroughly and consider consulting a financial advisor before investing.
In a world where online fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated, knowledge is your greatest weapon. Stay informed about these common Temu scams and adopt preventive measures. This way, you're taking a proactive stance against falling victim to these digital traps. Always prioritize security, trust your instincts, and remember that genuine platforms like Temu.com prioritize their users' safety and well-being.
How To Report a Temu Scam
Let your close family and online friends know about these common Temu scams. Feel free to share this article if it was helpful. Meanwhile, you can report Temu scammers and any other suspicious activity on the platform to both Temu.com and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) using the portals below:
How To Protect Yourself More
If you want to be amongst the first readers to receive notifications about new scams every week, subscribe to our Scam Detector newsletter. You will receive periodic emails with insightful tips. That will include how to prevent fraud and great information about the newest tools you can use to fight crime.
Meanwhile, feel free to educate yourself with some other e-commerce fraud-related articles. They are listed under this paragraph, so that you know more about online security. Last but not least, if you have any bad experiences, make sure to use the comments section below to expose other Temu scams.
A Dangerous Email Hacking Scam To Avoid
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I have shopped Temu for several years. I have been 100% satisfied. Yes the items are cheap by American standards, but they are useful. I have also bought a few of their clothing items, and I get compliments on them. When I have had a problem they are very quick to refund my full purchase amount to my credit card. They rarely ask me to return, so I donate to charity. I love Temu.
I have been shopping with Temu since last April and have been pleased so far. Some of the items are not worth the price, are not the right size or is not what I expected but I have been able to return the items and always get a refund. If the items are not worth Temu’s time/money they will tell me to just “keep the item,” “sell it” or “give it away.” I always find good deals with Temu, but remember, you get what you pay for.
I have been using Temu for about a year. During that time I purchased 100 rings because they were so cheap. Each of the rings were exactly like the photos on the listing and were all true to size. I also purchased a Van Gogh tapestry. It was as described. However, someone from Temu tried to charge me $100 even though I didn’t order anything. This caused my bank to revoke both of my debit cards. They didn’t inform me so I was very embarrassed at the grocery store and left with no groceries. I went straight to my bank and got new cards.
I am going to cancel my Temu account.
Highly insightful. Thanks for sharing Selma. Something they should teach in schools!
First of all, it is likely these “glowing” remarks on a site solely reserved for Temu scam complaints. These are NOT complaints. ALL they are is totally out of context. Apparently, whoever solicitated these remarks, either cannot read at all: or, are likely Temu scouts telling everyone how “wonderful” they are.
NOT ME!
I have NEVER ordered from Temu before, but did for Christmas time. I was charged, literally hundreds of dollars ($500 on three different credit cards), and sent 2x-4x the number of Items ordered. When I TRIED to return them, I was told I could: “Pay half the charge”. WHY in gods name do I want to pay hundreds of items that were sent WITHOUT either my knowledge or consent? One half of “$0.00”?
Also, when One credit card, suspicious of the several charges, froze the card, Temu went and Charged my other cards ON FILE to make up the deficit. They charged my Bank card, my Medicare card that had some cash rewards on it, and another online account.
The items they want returned, some of which were OK, also had orders in them that just didnt work, or only worked a few hours or so. EG., A wall heater that usually sells here in the states, with discount, for $50 sold; at Temu for $12.37. First off, I ONLY ordered ONE, but got two. Neither worked and put out no heat at all.
Well, I could go on and on. But, ALL I can say is, I got screwed and you guys didnt/ Who ya’ gonna believe? No thanks. I have over a $500 bill on three payment venues, which is what also looks like, even IF returned I will be lucky to get one half of what was charged: may have a “never returned” charge (plus they get to keep all the stuff, to scam someone else) and many items I neither want nor can use.
If you think that is some kind of deal: frankly, I would have a greater chance on a gambling website.
I’ve used Temu many times. Occasionally the items received were not exactly what I expected, twice the sizes were wrong, once I received an entirely wrong order.
The return or exchange when requested has always been prompt and seamless, I even received a personal response with an apology for the wrong order.
My refund has always been received as soon as the return is shipped.
Several times, I was told not to worry about returning the items and my refund showed up the next day. I have no complaints.
I have used Temu several times. Last Christmas my order was late. Several items did not arrive until after Christmas. When I contacted Temu, they credited my whole order, no problems. My order arrived several days later and not one item had to be returned. Order was over $250. I have never had a problem with them.
I know we don’t see it coming but doing proper research will save one a lot of stress
I read all of these notifications. I have been using Temu for 6 months. I expect an item to be based on the PRICE which is always low. I have only been disappointed 3 times and I buy a LOT. Two times they asked if I wanted a refund and I did, I got the credit & they told me to keep the item. NO problems.