Common Temu Scams and How to Avoid Them: 7 Methods
Katherine Young
My in-depth research helped me understand how to protect myself better while shopping online using various methods and tools. They have been quite effective, although it is a continuous learning process. To offer the best to the readers, I also tested over 30 scammer identifier tools and mentioned the most reliable ones in this article.
You can now go through this post and read about the most common scams in Temu and learn how to avoid them.
Spokeo is a powerful email Search tool to verify suspicious contacts and detect potential scams. In the age of rising Temu-related frauds, identifying fake emails and phishing attempts is crucial.
Common Temu Scams
Some of the top common Temu scams that I have listed are given below. You will also find reliable tips on how to avoid under them.
1) Fake email scam
Fake email is one of the most common Temu scams. If you are a first-time user, then pay attention. Such an email claims that there is some payment or order issue and requests the buyers to click on a link to reconfirm payment or resolve it. This happened to me when I was ordering a home decor from Temu, and the scammer sent me a reconfirmation link for the payment. Luckily, I mentioned it to a friend, and she warned me that it was a phishing attempt. Thus saving me from being charged twice.
Scam Email Detection: Yes
Investigate Identity: Yes
Fraudulent Tracking Info: Yes
Free Trial: 7 Days Trial for $0.95
How to Avoid It?
Always double check the sender’s email address to see if the email is being sent from “temuemail.com”. However, there’s the possibility of fake domains with similar extension in their name. Therefore, check the email ID thoroughly by going to the official website. If you find something irregular report it to Temu’s official support.
I also suggest you use reverse email lookup services such as Spokeo and Social Catfish to see if the email IDs are legit.
Here, I shall give a quick demo of Spokeo as an example (Follow the same process for Social Catfish):
Step 1) Go to https://www.spokeo.com/, choose the Email option, and enter the email ID you want to look up.
Step 2) After the site searches for it, click on Unlock Full Result and get a complete report on the owner, including their background.
However, while using this method, at times you may receive outdated information or missing data in the reports. In such cases, I urge you to use other tools and verify the result.
7-Days Trial for $0.95
2) Free Gift Card and Merch
If you are a frequent shopper, you must have seen these free gift card and merchandise scams. It involves promoting misleading free items and gift cards. The gifts are promised in exchange for completing surveys, sharing some personal information, or making a small payment. These details are used to collect data and trick you into spending more money. I once received a free gift along with a clothing purchase, and it didn’t look anything like the picture. It was an ill-fitting cap that I couldn’t use even for a single wear.
How to Avoid It?
The best way to avoid such scams is to not get tempted by the free items. If the offer seems too good to be true, that’s because it is. Always stick to trusted sellers and read the reviews about the brand if you are trying to order from a new seller. Additionally, if you see any ad from Temu on social media offering a free product, it’s most likely a scam. I have also noticed that the fake discounted products have a complicated returns policy, hence, check for such signs and avoid them.
3) Affiliate Link Scam
This type of scam tricks users into sharing affiliate links, declaring that if they share these discount or reward links, they can get some offer/commission in return. Meanwhile, the scammer earns the commission when the buyer you shared the link with purchases these products. The items in such offers are of extremely poor quality or may have no returns policy, and you gain none of the promised rewards.
How to Avoid It?
To avoid such scams, I click only on the trusted links from websites that I am familiar with and check if the source is verified. You must always be cautious about links that are shared via social media and email, even by your friends. Before you click on any one of the links, ask them where they have shared it from and do your own research before purchasing anything. I also recommend using a firewall or an anti-virus that offers built-in spam link checks. Such spam protection identifies suspicious links instantly and shows an error when you try to visit them, thus saving you from any scams.
4) Counterfeit products
Counterfeit product scams in Temu involve sellers providing substandard copies of well-known brand products at surprisingly low prices. They won’t claim it’s the original but will make it seem like they offer the same type of product at a much lower rate. The items look very similar to the expensive brands in the picture, but once you receive them, you will be highly disappointed by how bad the quality is. A friend of mine found a dress on Temu that looked exactly like Calvin Klein’s, but at a very reasonable rate. However, once it was delivered, the stitching and material were beyond horrible.
How to Avoid It?
To stay safe from such disappointments, check the seller’s reviews and be cautious of such items. You must also know that a high-quality product with professional stitching will not be sold at such a low rate. Therefore, it is better to visit stores if you are interested in the first copies or check the Temu seller’s verification badge. I also suggest you buy similar products from legit sellers that do not sell copies but are well-known and offer original designs that look close to the expensive brands.
5) Customer Support Scams and Identity Theft
You should not trust Temu support blindly, as there have been multiple customer care scams that claim to be from Temu. These agents contact you via call, email, chat, and social media, offering assistance with returns, refunds, and orders. They extract personal information in this process, including requesting credit card details and login credentials, leading to financial loss and identity theft.
How to Avoid It?
The best way to protect yourself from such scams is to contact Temu customer support only via the official website. You must also not respond to random support emails that seem suspicious. I always avoid sharing OTPs, passwords, and payment details with random support requests. It is mentioned on all OTPs as a warning to never share them with anyone unless it is specifically sent for product delivery and cancellation. If you frequently shop on Temu– enable 2-FA on banking apps and transactions, verify URLs, and avoid sharing any details to stop identity theft.
6) Xbox message spam scams
The Xbox scam happens when you receive spam messages from Xbox where you may find links to suspicious offers or phishing sites. I have personally received fake promotions and rewards in such scam attempts. They might also request personal details and share links where you might have to fill out a form with your information.
How to Avoid It?
Avoid any form of links sent via Xbox, support messages or Temu offers will be sent through official channels used by the site. I have also adjusted the Xbox settings and blocked non-friends to stop such spam. Hence, do this immediately if you are receiving random messages. Always report such spam and never enter login and payment details on unfamiliar sites. If you are curious about any promotions, check them out on the official Temu website first to ensure their legitimacy.
7) Storefront cloning
Many fraudulent sellers in Temu copy the original expensive brand logos or even use their images and descriptions to sell products. I have come across numerous clothing and accessory images being used page by page from sites like Zara, Coach, H&M, Adidas, etc., and other brands on Temu. They use these images and provide highly affordable prices or heavy discounts, making you think they are authentic sellers. However, if you purchase them, you will only receive a surprise and not the good kind. These products will look like prank items that are nothing like the original sellers.
How to Avoid It?
If you want dupes of high-end brands, just use a legitimate first-copy site or verify the seller on Temu. You must also avoid buying items that look too similar to the original brand with images copy pasted from their sites. It’s best to purchase from a seller than actually claims they are selling copies with verification to get the expensive items in reasonable rates. (Note that counterfeit product scam do not claim they are original, but storefront scam tries to pose as the actual brand.)
8) Fake Ads on Social Media
This is a common scam on Temu, which promises prizes for winning giveaway contests on social media or involves ads that show expensive items on sale or high discounts. When you click on these links that claim to lead to a contest or discount coupon, you will end up on a phishing site. In a recent case, my sibling got excited seeing Rare Beauty and Yeezy in such a giveaway contest, but then she saw comments of people talking about losing money since Rare Beauty and Yeezy aren’t available on Temu. In fact, human comments were later removed, and only bots were found expressing gratitude. Thus, do not fall for comments like “Thanks, the link worked”, “Thanks, I received my products, they are legit,” etc.
How to Avoid It?
If you really want discounts but want to protect yourself from such fake giveaways simply avoid such posts. Think reasonably: why would such big brands put their product on an e-commerce website that falls in the same niche as AliExpress? Hence, check the official site of the brand to ensure if they have any such collaboration. Also, go to the social media account to see if the profile that posted the Giveaway has enough followers, owns a blue tick, and other authenticity indications.
Here are some Additional Methods to Avoid Temu Scams
You can use these additional effective methods that I have provided below to stay safe from Temu scams.
Method 1: Verifying Seller Using Third-Party Apps
I tested these third-party apps first-hand and found them quite reliable. Additionally, I have provided–easy how to use steps for your convenience.
1) Social Catfish – Address Lookup
Social Catfish is one of the most reliable reverse lookup tools. It offers address lookup as one of its search features. This lookup service helped me verify a boutique registered in Temu. I acquired the location details from Temu’s Sold By section next to the product.
The best part was that it gave the property specs and deeds of the company’s physical address as well. However, a few times you may receive some false data or outdated information. I suggest you cross check the address on Google Maps and Whitepages to verify it. You can also try official business registries to check their legitimacy.
Here’s how I looked up an address using Social Catfish:
Step 1) Visit https://socialcatfish.com/, select Address, then enter the location you want to look up and tap on the Search button.
Step 2) If prompted, you can also select locations from its suggestion, which offers a complete address related to your input. This might help you find more precise search results.
Step 3) Once the search is complete, enter your email address. Tap on Unlock Results and click on View Full Report to get the complete details.
3-Day Trial for $5.73
2) PeopleLooker – B2B Lookup
PeopleLooker is a robust reverse lookup site that includes a B2B lookup service. This helps you verify a business owner or someone from the company which provides their information. For example, go to Sold By option on Temu, get the company name and find out the founder. Use this information on PeopleLooker to get their phone number, email, educational background, etc. I could also use it as a Chrome extension for easy search everytime I used Temu.
However, there were times when I found some mismatches in the business name and the individual in the results. In such cases, I suggest you search using alternate parameters of the tool. I switched from B2B to other information searches such as the name, email, etc. You can also use image lookup tools to reverse image search for the company logo or the individual itself.
Let me now show you how to use the PeopleLooker’s B2B search:
Step 1) Visit https://www.peoplelooker.com/, add the name of the person associated with the business, company name, and location, and then hit Search.
Step 2) Allow the tool to perform an extensive search on the information. This may take 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 3) Once the search is complete, add your email ID to receive the report.
7-Day Trial for $1
3) Scamio (AI Scam Detection Tool)
Scamio by Bitdefender is an exceptional AI-powered scam detection tool. It takes only a few seconds to detect a scam. All I had to do was send any suspicious URLs, email links, social media messages, or QR codes, and Scamio analyzed them instantly. You can use its services via the web app, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Discord.
If you are a vlogger or a blogger about consumer protection, this can be a good addition to your list, as it also provides tips and tricks on how to avoid scams. The only issue with Scamio is false positives, which are rare. However, I checked some genuine emails and QR codes to test it, and a few of them were flagged as scams. Therefore, you can also check reviews and other forums to confirm if you are being scammed.
Use the following steps to verify Temu scams with Scamio:
Step 1) Select one of the chat channels and start by creating a Bitfinder account. I’m using the web app for this demonstration.
Step 2) You can now chat, describe what type of scam you are receiving, and send the link, email, or upload images. I shared an email link from a sender who had been spamming for weeks with promotional messages. Turns out it’s a genuine business advertisement.
4) Google Images
Google Images is one of the fastest and most reliable reverse image lookup tools. If you are skeptical about using Temu or are a first-time shopper on this site, this can be your quick solution. You can either upload an image or paste a URL to look it up. I have used Google Images to verify products and company logos, which showed me if the pictures of the items were authentic or copied from other sites.
There could be several unrelated images in the results which can seem overwhelming. You can simply ignore and search for similar images or use filters to make it less chaotic.
Here’s a step-by-step on how to use Google Images:
Step 1) Visit https://images.google.com/ and upload an image or paste a URL and allow the tool to look it up.
Step 2) You can then scroll down and go through the results.
I found the same outfit and model on the Zara website, something similar on H&M, and some dupes on Instagram. This indicates that the image was taken from Zara and pasted on Temu by the seller.
Link: https://images.google.com/
Method 2: Use a Separate Email Address
Using a separate email address to shop on Temu is a smart solution to avoid scams. This way, your primary email will remain safe from phishing messages, and you can have a more organized inbox. I use a secondary email exclusively for shopping online, which makes signing up convenient as I am not sharing my personal ID. It also protects you from exposing your details to scammers, even if your email ID gets leaked.
The only difficulty would be managing multiple email accounts as checking two email inboxes with numerous emails every day can get overwhelming. This could lead you to miss important messages, hence, you could set up email forwarding or enable notifications for daily updates.
Method 3: Use a Virtual Card for Payments
Virtual Cards are digital and at times even physical cards that function the same way as credit and debit cards. You can use them to make secure transactions and online payments. It helps protect your sensitive banking details. I have used IronVest, Wise, US Unlocked, Ramp, etc., in the past for online shopping, international transactions, etc. In fact, some virtual cards like IronVest include a scam detection feature.
I suggest that both experienced and beginners use this for additional safety while making any purchase on Temu. Although a few merchants rejected some of these cards as they might get flagged as suspicious. For higher acceptance use a virtual card that closely mimics real cards. If you have asked for a refund, make sure you keep your card active till the money is credited.
Method 4: Verify secure payments
To make sure you aren’t exposing your card details to scammers and other threats while shopping online, check for secure payment gateways. You must see if the payment link has HTTPS or click on the padlock icon of the website to see if it is SSL certified. I also suggest confirming the domain to see if the gateway led to the official Temu payment site. You must also try verifying if it is PCI DSS compliant or look for trust badges such as Norton Secured, McAfee Secure, etc.
The issue with this trick is that some scam sites also might have SSL certificates. Therefore, look closely at the URL for minute details like misspellings, or enter the site’s link manually. You must also avoid clicking on ads that randomly appear on the site, which could corrupt your payment gateway.
Method 5: Adjust Your Device and App Settings
If you are using Temu on your phone, make sure you keep its device and data access to limited. You can also allow certain permissions and revoke them once it has served its purpose. Note that Temu may request permissions again after every update, so check your settings regularly. I have disabled auto-updates as its possible that I might forget to reconfigure the settings.
However, you might not get the best product suggestions at times if you turn off certain access, such as location. You can turn it on while using Temu and turn it off once you close the app.
Method 6: Use Privacy and Security Tools
Using a VPN or antivirus and other privacy and security tools can ensure protection while using Temu. Additionally, setting two-factor authentication also keeps scammers at bay. The VPN also helped me escape the price difference when I was browsing through some tote bags. It ensured that I wasn’t redirected to an expensive fake version. Initially, the site showed $47, but with the VPN, it was only $16.
However, VPNs can slow down the internet speed at times. Choosing a reliable VPN such as ExpressVPN and using its premium version can help avoid such issues. You must also note that antivirus software won’t catch phishing messages and emails. Hence, do your due diligence and stay cautious.
Method 7: Contact the Better Business Bureau
If you find suspicious activity or fraudulent sellers on the site, you can contact the Better Business Bureau. However, at times, the BBB might not take immediate action. In such cases, you can also contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
In one such instance, I emailed BBB when I was spammed by a particular seller asking me to reconfirm my payment for the purchase. However, they redirected me to the consumer protection office. Although, I did receive an immediate response when I shared another fraud item seller’s details. In this case, they flagged the seller as a scam within a few hours, and I didn’t see the products on the site anymore.
What to Do If You Are Scammed on Temu: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here, I have provided some practical tips on what steps to take if you get scammed in Temu:
- Reach out to Temu support: Contact the support and report the issue. You should also provide them with all the details, including the communications and order numbers.
- Keep a record: Store all the emails, screenshot chats, etc., to save them as evidence for investigation.
- Check bank statements: Review all your bank statements to see payments and find out if there are any discrepancies. You can contact your bank and inform them about any unverified charges.
- Change the account password: Immediately change your Temu account password to reduce any further risks and unauthorized access.
- File a dispute with the payment provider: Most payment gateways offer unauthorized transaction protection to users. If you have been scammed while using a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, etc., you can file a dispute for a refund.
- Consumer protection agencies: Contact the consumer protection agencies and submit a detailed report on the scam. You can get help from organizations like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which will further investigate the issue.
- Check email and messages: Find out if you have received any phishing links in your email or text messages. Avoid clicking on any such links in the future if you have already been scammed, and report them to support immediately.
- Warn others and stay vigilant: Make other users are aware of such scams to protect them from fraudulent sellers. Stay vigilant and cautious while using Temu in the future, do a thorough double-check on the seller, read about how to identify a fake business, etc., to safeguard yourself.
- Report to the Cybercrime department: Whenever you come across such scams, reporting them to your country’s cybercrime department can also be helpful. These departments are well-equipped to track down online scammers and will assist you in taking the proper legal action.
FAQs
Conclusion
Temu scams are one of the most common issues faced by e-commerce users. All of the solutions that I have mentioned can be used to avoid such scams. However, you will need some patience since you have to combine these methods to truly protect yourself from scammers. It also requires you to have a smart eye to sort the fake sellers from thousands of real businesses on the site. The methods I found most reliable are using reverse lookup sites like Spokeo and Social Catfish, using separate email IDs, and using virtual cards. However, avoiding suspicious links, ads, and messages depends on the individual. Therefore, you must be on the lookout while using such shopping sites.
