Temu Scams: How To Recognize And Avoid Them

Leave a Comment / By Selma Hrynchuk / August 30, 2023 August 30, 2023

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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Searching: Domain age, Alexa rank, HTTPS valid, Blacklisting, SSL certificates, Source code, Location, IP address, WOT Trustworthiness, Spam reports, Advanced technology, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Contact options

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:

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.