15 Temu scams: Most common types and how to avoid them

What are Temu scams?

Temu scams are fraudulent schemes that malicious actors use to trick unsuspecting Temu users into transferring money or sensitive data. Scammers may entice their victims to buy faulty or non-existent products, share sensitive information (like email addresses or credit card details), or in rare cases, even download malware.

Types of Temu scams

Since Temu is a popular online marketplace, the most common target for scammers is users' money (although some scammers also target sensitive user data). Malicious actors can get incredibly creative in figuring out numerous ways to trick the discount-hungry users. From text scams to fake websites, here are the 15 most common Temu scams to watch out for.

1. Temu text scams

Temu text scams are a type of fraud in which scammers send text messages to lure you into visiting phishing websites. Fraudsters typically pretend to be Temu representatives, claiming there’s a problem with the target’s delivery or purchase process (for example, text messages may include wording such as “parcel not received” or “address not found”). In these texts, malicious actors leave phishing links that lead to sites designed to steal user credentials or even credit card information.

While they might not seem elaborate at times, Temu text scams can be dangerous because they aim to fluster users, encouraging quick and thoughtless action. All it takes is a moment of carelessness, and suddenly you’re hastily tapping on a suspicious link, typing in your Temu username and password, and voluntarily surrendering your credentials to malicious actors. 

Best case scenario: You open the text, but don’t tap on the link — you’re in the clear. 

You might feel inclined to write “STOP” or inquire more. However, we recommend avoiding that. Replying to scammers lets them know that your number is active, potentially prompting more scam messages in the future.

Worst case scenario: You tap on the link and fill in the information on the phishing website. Depending on the website’s design, you might surrender your email address, Temu username and password, and even your Social Security number (in rare cases, scammers may ask for it as a means of “verification”). Once you submit your sensitive information, scammers can hijack your account and steal your data, leading to financial loss and identity theft. In some cases, visiting a phishing website might also prompt unwanted installs that often contain malware. 

Luckily, you can avoid Temu text scams by learning how to identify spam text messages. We also recommend checking your order details on Temu's official website instead of clicking on links provided in text messages. Finally, Temu marketplace offers additional tips on how to safeguard against Temu text scams, so you can always check those for more information.

Red flags to watch out for:

• The sender’s phone number (look for errors or inconsistencies in the handle and check the country code)
• Links in the message that don’t lead to the official Temu website (check for misspellings or unusual domain names). Shortened links could also be a warning sign
• Messages that suggest a sense of urgency, such as “Your parcel is stuck” or “Immediate action is required to claim your package”

2. Temu email scams

By their nature, Temu email scams are similar to Temu text scams. The key differences include the means of approach (in this case, email messages) and the attachments to the message. Unlike text scams, Temu email scams might sometimes include malicious files attached to the message.

Other than these differences, the course of approach in Temu text scams is similar: Fraudsters use spoofed email addresses to pose as legitimate entities and send fake messages. The emails might come with urgent announcements, like “your account has been compromised, act now!” or “there has been a problem with your order, click here for next steps.” The wording may vary, but the key principle remains the same — to trick people into clicking on suspicious links and submitting their sensitive data. In rare cases, the email might contain a .pdf or .zip attachment (presented as a “coupon” or “order confirmation”), as a means to infect your device with malware.

Best case scenario: You open the email but don’t click on a suspicious link. You report the letter as spam and forget about it with no harm done. 

Worst case scenario: You open the email, click on the link, and submit your credentials in the provided fields. Soon after, you start getting emails from Temu’s real support about new sign-ins and changed passwords, indicating that someone has indeed hijacked your account. Since people often reuse their passwords, scammers use your email address and the password you provided to access your other accounts. Their hunch turns out to be right, and you lose your email, social media, and other marketplace service accounts (for example, Amazon or eBay).

To avoid Temu email scams, you need to exercise caution and vigilance. If you get emails that pressure you into clicking links or email attachments, don’t rush. Double-check the sender’s handle for any typos or mistakes and log in to your Temu account separately to check if you have gotten any identical messages. Never reply or provide information to senders that request your personal information — legitimate companies never ask their customers to provide sensitive information via email.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Requests for sensitive information, such as your Temu password, credit card number, security code, PIN, or social security number (SSN)
• Requests to pay unexpected fees for promotional items like "free gifts" or "surprise boxes"
• Unexpected attachments as means for order confirmation (Temu will never ask you to open attachments to confirm your purchases)

3. Temu affiliate link scams

Temu affiliate and influencer programs are legitimate ventures. However, scammers might use that fact to launch their own fraudulent affiliate links as means to steal user information. Malicious actors can also post videos with ads containing tempting images of cash, luxury items, or “exclusive offers” to lure you in.

The goal of the Temu affiliate scam is to trick you into clicking a malicious link. The link may lead to a phishing website designed to steal your sensitive data.

Best case scenario: You see a suspicious video with a link to create a Temu account and get lucrative deals or items. You decide not to click on it and avoid exposing your data. 

Worst case scenario: You see a suspicious video with a link to create a Temu account and get lucrative deals or items. You click on it and type in your email address and password. However, if you reuse passwords, instead of successful account setup, you start getting emails about suspicious login attempts or even password changes in some of your online accounts, leading to account takeover or even identity theft.

To avoid Temu affiliate link scams, learning how to spot a phishing email is the first step. You can start by being skeptical of the offers that seem too good to be true. In addition, hovering your mouse over the link and checking the destination URL in the bottom left corner of your browser can help you notice suspicious websites before visiting them.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Links redirect you to a website different from Temu's official page
• Too-good-to-be-true offers, like free items or cash rewards for clicking on links
• Messages that create pressure to act quickly, causing a false sense of urgency

4. Temu gift card scams

Temu gift card scams are especially popular on social media platforms. They often appear as posts with fraudulent links, promising users free Temu gift cards or merchandise if users follow the provided URL. 

In some cases, scammers may ask the targets to download apps, complete surveys, play games, or shop through specific links as means to “earn” the gift cards. Needless to say, users never receive their prize and instead end up in phishing sites designed to steal sensitive information. 

Best case scenario: You see a post urging you to get a free Temu gift card by following the link provided in the description. You click on the link, but find the webpage suspicious and immediately close it. Since you didn’t provide your sensitive information, the risk of exposure is minimal, so you carry on as you were. 

Worst case scenario: You see a post urging you to get a free Temu gift card by following the link provided in the description. You click on the link and follow the instructions to buy goods or provide sensitive information, such as your email address and Temu password. Not only do you not receive the promised gift card, but also start getting notifications about suspicious sign-ins and password changes to your Temu account.

To avoid Temu gift card scams, remember that the platform rarely gives out free gift cards. While Temu offers legitimate online promotions, it’s best to double-check the offers via the platform’s legitimate website (or app) to make sure you’re not being scammed.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspicious account handles from profiles claiming to give out free Temu gift cards
• Links leading to websites that don’t match Temu’s official webpage
• Conditions that ask users to download unknown apps, shop through suspicious links, or play games as means to “earn” the gift card

5. Fake promo codes scam

Fake Temu promo codes scam occurs when fraudsters present fake referral codes to users in exchange of their personal information. Scammers may post offers on social media platforms with deals like “100% off” discounts if the target provides their email address and Temu password. 

If the user submits their personal information, the scammers may send a fake referral or promo code. However, instead they typically just use provided credentials to hijack the victim’s Temu account, send more phishing links, or try and breach the victim's other accounts (for example social media or e-commerce accounts). 

Best case scenario: You stumble upon a post on Facebook or Instagram claiming to provide a code that will give 100% off your next Temu purchase if you follow a specific link. You click on the provided URL, find suspicious requests for your email address and Temu password, and decide to not engage, closing the browser window and limiting your exposure to a minimum.

Worst case scenario: You stumble upon a post on Facebook or Instagram claiming to provide a code that will give 100% off your next Temu purchase if you follow a specific link. You click on the provided URL, follow the instructions, typing your email address and Temu password, and finish the process. However, instead of promo code you start receiving email notifications indicating that your Temu account’s password has been changed or that someone tried to access your email account. 

To avoid Temu promo code scams, it’s often enough to ask whether the offer you see in front of you is too good to be true. If the answer is a resounding yes, that’s your first cue to verify the information in the official Temu website or app before engaging in any sort of activity.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspicious account handles from profiles promoting Temu promo of referral codes
• Links leading to websites that don’t match Temu’s official webpage
• Requests to provide sensitive information in exchange for codes with deals such as “100% off,” “100$ cashback,” and similar

6. Fake Temu app scams

Fake Temu app scams describe fake apps that malicious actors create to confuse and trick users into downloading the wrong app. These fake apps are often ridden with trackers that aim to capture user credentials such as email addresses, passwords, or credit card information.

Scammers may use fake ads, social media, or even phishing emails to promote these apps. Since fraudsters often try to mimic official Temu’s apps interface as closely as possible, it can be difficult to distinguish between the legitimate provider and a fake app.

Best case scenario: A scammer sends you a phishing email inviting you to download Temu app and create an account. The message might promise extra shopping credits or discounts if you use the provided link. You click on the link but notice that the webpage it opens offers a suspicious version of the app from an unknown source. You exit the page with minimal exposure and run an antivirus scan to check whether clicking on the link didn’t install any malware to your device.

Worst case scenario: A scammer sends you a phishing email inviting you to download Temu app and create an account. The message might promise extra shopping credits or discounts if you use the provided link. You click on the link and download the app. Once you install the app, you type in your login credentials only to find that there’s something wrong with the login process. Soon after you get notifications about unsolicited login attempts and password changes to your Temu account. In addition, ads and unknown apps start popping up on your device.

To avoid Temu fake app scams, never download apps from unknown links or QR codes. Instead, open your device’s official app store and download the Temu app from there.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspicious emails that encourage downloading the Temu app
• Unknown names or companies in the software provider’s section 
• Lack of user comments and reviews 

7. Fake Temu websites

Fake Temu website scams are similar to fake Temu app scams. Instead of fake apps, scammers create fake websites that closely resemble the official Temu website in order to trick targets into submitting their login credentials.

Malicious actors typically share these fake Temu websites through social media posts, fake ads, and phishing emails. They lure their victims by promising lucrative deals such as huge discounts on their Temu purchases or fake gift cards. However, as soon as the user fills in the login fields on the fake website, scammers immediately steal the credentials, gaining access to the victim’s Temu account.

Best case scenario: A scammer sends you a phishing email with an invitation to sign in to your Temu account to get a huge discount on your next purchase. You click on the provided URL but notice that the website does not resemble an official Temu website. You close the website and report the email as spam.

Worst case scenario: A scammer sends you a phishing email with an invitation to sign in to your Temu account to get a huge discount on your next purchase. You click on the provided URL and try to sign into your Temu account using your credentials. The login fails, and soon you start getting email alerts about suspicious login attempts or Temu password change. You might also get warnings from other e-commerce platforms or social media sites about someone trying to sign in with your email address and password. Scammers hijack your Temu account, locking you out and putting you at risk of losing your purchases or exposing your credit card information.

To avoid fake Temu websites, it’s important to carefully evaluate all posts, messages, or emails that entice you to follow links for lucrative prizes. Double-checking the offers via the official Temu site is also a good way to avoid falling for scammer traps.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspicious-looking URLs in messages, emails, or social media posts
• Grammatical errors, weird fonts, and oversized or poor quality images that can't be found on the legitimate Temu website 
• Enticement to follow the provided link for deals such as “100% off your next Temu purchase”

8. Temu job scams

Temu job scams are another effective way for malicious actors to steal money from unsuspecting users. Fraudsters contact their targets via SMS or on social media with offers to earn ludicrous amounts of money (for example, $200-300 a day, plus commission), sometimes for as little as 15 minutes of work a day. 

If a target responds to the message, scammers will provide them with instructions to log in to a “training account” where they seemingly rate Temu products. While initially victims might earn money, soon the “earnings” start dropping  to a point, where victims are forced to compensate for the “losses” out of their own pocket. Trying to withdraw the earned funds is also likely to result in an error or require the victim to pay unreasonable fees, causing more financial loss.

Best case scenario: You receive a message with an offer to work for Temu, helping with product reviews for $200 a day for as little as an hour of work a day. You reply to the message, but upon second thought figure that the offer sounds too good to be true and block the sender’s number.

Worst case scenario: You receive a message with an offer to work for Temu, helping with product reviews for $200 a day for as little as an hour of work a day. You reply to the sender, agreeing to take the job, and soon after end up on a website that resembles Temu’s, rating various products. However, in a day or so, you get what’s called “combo orders” negatively affecting overall profits. Scammers then ask you to balance the offset by using your own money, resulting in financial loss.

To safeguard against fake Temu job scams, remember that legitimate companies never hire employees over SMS or social media messages. Moreover, the process of becoming employed usually takes weeks and requires meetings with recruiters, hiring managers, or HR, giving you enough reason to doubt any message that offers a quick buck without a proper interview process.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspicious misspellings or iterations of company names (for example “TEMU,” instead of “Temu”)
• Salary offers that sound too good to be true. 
• Unwillingness to answer questions, schedule meetings, or elaborate on the offered position.

9. Temu pallet scams

Temu pallet scams are listings of bulk, returned, or unclaimed merchandise that are available for surprisingly low prices. While these offers might seem like a steal at first, it’s actually the purchaser that gets ripped off in the end. Once the victim pays for the listing, scammers either disappear with the money or send low-quality goods instead. While financially, the loss might not be as painful for one individual, they’re profitable enough for scammers to keep running.

Best case scenario: You get an email or stumble across a listing online that offers a bulk of products for a ridiculously low price. Enticed by the offer, you look for reviews, just to be sure. However, you don’t find any positive review (or any review in general), so you hold off from completing the purchase.

Worst case scenario: You get an email or stumble across a listing online that offers a bulk of products for a ridiculously low price. Excited, you add the items to your cart and complete the purchase. However, after waiting for weeks or months, the package doesn’t arrive (or arrives with poor quality goods inside).

Avoiding Temu pallet scams is simple if you’re skeptical about any deals that seem too good to be true. Usually, comparing prices with other Temu listings of similar products and checking the reviews can help you spot the scam before making a purchase.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Suspiciously low prices on merchandise listings
• Requests for payments using untraceable methods, such as wire transfers or gift cards
• Lack of details about shipment information, product quality, or return policies

10. Temu credit card scams

Temu credit card scams (sometimes known as credit card fraud) describe a fraud tactic during which scammers trick targets into providing their credit card information. One of the typical scenarios include phishing emails in which scammers urge their targets to confirm their payment details. Needless to say, submitting credit card information leads to unauthorized transactions or purchases that can result in significant financial loss. 

Best case scenario: You get an email, seemingly from Temu support, that requests you to provide your credit card information to “verify your payment details.” The message also has a link, so you click on it and see a version of Temu web where you’re asked to provide your credit card number, CVV number, expiration date, and the name on the card. You find the request suspicious and close the webpage, reporting the email as spam.

Worst case scenario: You get an email, seemingly from Temu support, that requests to provide your credit card information to “verify your payment details.” You immediately follow the link provided in the message and fill in the information. Soon after, you start getting notifications about unauthorized purchases in your name, signalling that someone is using your credit card information to spend your money.

To avoid Temu credit card scams, it’s important to remember that no legitimate business will ask you to provide your credit card information via email. If you feel unsure about the request, make sure to verify your information through the official Temu website, rather than doing so via email.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Links that lead to websites that seem inconsistent with Temu’s brand visuals (contain weird text formats, blurry images, or grammar mistakes)
• Links that lead to websites lacking clear security policies or customer-related information
• Lack of basic online security measures (for example, the link doesn’t have a “https://” handle)

11. Temu customer service scams

Temu customer service scams are part of a broader category of customer service impersonation scams. It’s the type of fraud during which scammers send messages pretending to be representatives of platform (in this case — Temu’s) customer support agents. They trick users into providing sensitive information as means for “identity verification” or “order confirmation.”

Best case scenario: You receive an email or a text message from someone who claims to be from Temu support. In the message, you are asked to verify your account or confirm your order by submitting your information in the provided link. Instead of doing so, you decide to check the information by signing in to your Temu account through the official Temu website. Since you can’t find any evidence that would support the message’s claim, you report the email (or SMS) as spam.

Worst case scenario: You receive an email or a text message from someone who claims to be from Temu support. In the message, you are asked to verify your account or confirm your order by submitting your information in the provided link. You click on the link and submit your Temu login credentials. Soon after, you start getting notifications or alerts about unauthorized login attempts or password changes to your Temu account. Scammers hijack your account and start making purchases in your name, causing financial loss.

To avoid Temu customer service scams, it’s important to not give into the sense of urgency that scammers are trying to create. Even if the message seems highly concerning, reacting calmly and double-checking the information through official channels can prevent you from becoming a victim.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Messages that urge you to act quickly as means to solve a problem as quickly as possible
• Sender’s handle looks suspicious, including misspelled names, personal phone numbers, and weird company name variations (for example “TEMU’s Support”)
• Messages are full of grammar errors, typos, and phrases typically not common to legitimate customer support agents

12. Temu fraudulent seller or product misrepresentation scams

Fraudulent sellers and product misrepresentation is a headache for any e-commerce platform that allows third-party sellers. Since Temu is one such platform, running into these types of scammers is inevitable. 

Fraudulent sellers may often sell products that do not match their pictures or descriptions. Others might sell counterfeit goods, presenting them as legitimate products. While these online shopping scams are not as dangerous as, say, submitting your credit card information to malicious actors, it’s still a fraud.

Best case scenario: You stumble upon a listing on Temu’s website that catches your eye. It’s  “limited edition” merchandise that you’ve been looking at for a while. However, the vendor doesn’t have a Temu-issued “verified” badge, and reviews seem to suggest that seller might be a scammer, so you close the listing and either report the vendor to Temu’s support or just continue browsing.

Worst case scenario: You stumble upon a listing on Temu’s website that catches your eye. It’s  “limited edition” merchandise that you’ve been looking at for a while. You see no reason to investigate further (time’s a wastin’, someone else might snatch the goods from your nose!) so you just add the item to your cart and complete the purchase. However, once you receive the package, you realise that the product looks nothing like the listing and that you’ve been scammed.

To avoid Temu fraudulent seller scams, you can check for “verified” badges that Temu offers to vendors. However, this option is not foolproof either, so make sure to carefully check user reviews. Be skeptical of vendors that have overly positive reviews — scammers may artificially inflate the product rating to boost vendor’s credibility.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Unusually low product prices, compared to other same-category products
• Lack of Temu’s verification badge near the vendor’s profile
• Poor, overly positive, or vague user reviews

13. Counterfeit goods scam

A counterfeit goods scam is a part of product misinterpretation scams, during which scammers pose as third-party vendors to sell poor quality products. These goods are often cheaper compared to the usual market price and sold as legitimate products. In reality, however, the merchandise is often poor quality, doesn’t match the images provided in the listing, or is a straight up forgery. 

Best case scenario: You find a listing on Temu for a cheap pair of designer-brand limited edition sneakers. They seem way cheaper than those found in the official store, which immediately raises suspicion. In addition, the vendor has no Temu verification badge, and the user reviews seem to indicate that the product is poor quality and counterfeit. You close the listing and report the vendor to Temu support.

Worst case scenario: You find a listing on Temu for a cheap pair of designer-brand limited edition sneakers. They seem way cheaper than those found in the official store, so you decide to get them. However, once you receive your merchandise, it turns out that the sneakers are actually a forgery of the legitimate product (and poor quality at that, too). Angry, you want to return the fraudulent goods, but the vendor did not provide any return policy and does not respond to your messages, so you have no way of getting your money back.

To avoid counterfeit goods scam, exercise caution when you see listings that seem too good to be true. Checking for Temu verification badges and user reviews should be first steps when deciding whether the vendor is legitimate or not. In addition, be suspicious of sellers that don’t provide any information about their return policy. 

Red flags to watch out for:

• Product prices that seem too good to be true
• Profiles that don’t have Temu’s verification badge next to them
• Low number of reviews with generic, vaguely worded or overly positive user feedback

14. Order tracking scam

Sometimes known as a Temu delivery scam, an order tracking scam is another popular phishing type. In this scenario, scammers pose as Temu support agents and contact targets claiming their ordered product delivery has failed. Fraudsters encourage victims to either pay a fee or submit their credentials via a suspicious link as means to “re-deliver” the package. If the target gives in, they may be asked to provide sensitive details such as email address, Temu password, or even banking information, leading to account hijacking, financial loss, or even identity theft.

Best case scenario: You receive an email from someone claiming to be a member of Temu support. They inform you that your Temu delivery has gotten stuck and needs you to pay an additional fee or provide user verification to complete the delivery. This immediately raises some questions for you, so you double-check your tracking information using the official Temu website, only to see that everything is actually fine. You report the suspicious email as spam and continue with your day.

Worst case scenario: You receive an email from someone claiming to be a member of Temu support. They inform you that your Temu delivery has gotten stuck and needs you to pay an additional fee or provide user verification to complete the delivery. Flustered, you follow the link provided in the email and type in the requested information. Soon after, you start getting notifications about suspicious login requests and password changes to your Temu account. If that’s not enough, you also receive alerts about someone using your credit card information to conduct unauthorized purchases in your name, suggesting that you’ve been exposed to identity theft.

To avoid Temu order tracking scams, treat any email with URLs as a potential phishing attempt. If an email comes from someone claiming to be a representative of Temu support, contains messages that pressure you into quick action, and is full of grammatical errors, it’s almost a guarantee that scammers are targeting you.

Red flags to watch out for:

• Slightly misspelled email handles that don’t match Temu’s official email address
• Messages that create a false sense of urgency, often related to scenarios like deliveries getting canceled or stopped midway
• Emails with suspicious links, typos, and grammar mistakes

15. Brushing scam

A brushing scam is a type of fraud in which scammers artificially inflate the ratings of low-quality products by sending unsolicited packages to people. One of the top online scams in China, this scam involves scammers creating fake accounts to buy cheap goods (typically from themselves) and send them to random individuals. Once the package reaches its destination, the platform grants the buyer a “delivery complete” status, allowing them to post glowing reviews about the product.

While this scam is less harmful than phishing attacks or check fraud, it’s still a type of fraud that can trick unsuspecting Temu users into buying poor-quality products. Receiving an unsolicited package might also be a potential warning sign that the receiver's personal data (such as email or physical address) is accessible to scammers. Sometimes packages might also include a QR code that could lead to a phishing site.

Best case scenario: You receive an unsolicited package that contains some low-quality items. After carefully checking the label, you contact the delivery service and Temu support to report a brushing scam and consider subscribing to a personal data removal service, such as Incogni, to reduce your data exposure online.

Worst case scenario: You receive an unsolicited package that contains some low-quality items. The package has a QR code on it so you scan it and find yourself on a website that closely resembles Temu. The website asks you to log in, so you fill in your credentials. Soon after, you start receiving alerts and notifications about unauthorized login requests and password changes to your Temu account, indicating that you’ve fallen for a phishing scam.

There’s no one concrete way to avoid brushing scams, since scammers may sometimes use random addresses, resulting in the package arriving at your door. However, you can help safeguard others from buying low-quality goods by leaving honest reviews on Temu listings. 

Red flags to watch out for:

• Unknown packages that you didn’t order, appearing at your doorstep
• Labels with suspicious QR codes, inviting you to rate the delivery
• Lack of sender information on the package

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Is Temu a scam? 

While some deals on Temu may seem suspicious, the platform itself is a legitimate e-commerce business and not a scam. However, even if a retailer is a reputable business, it’s important to be vigilant when checking out listings and dealing with third-party sellers.

One way to make sure you’re taking care of your sensitive information is by investing in identity theft protection services, such as NordProtect. NordProtect offers features like credit monitoring, financial account monitoring, and identity theft recovery, designed to keep you informed and covered in case of potential identity theft. The service also helps with online fraud coverage and offers a dark web monitoring feature, which instantly informs you if your sensitive data has been detected on the dark web.

What are the risks of shopping on Temu?

As an e-commerce platform, Temu collects significant amounts of user data, such as contact info, payment details, device data, location, and even browsing behavior. Temu states that it uses this data for marketing purposes and purchase facilitation. However, to achieve those goals, the platform has to share that data with third parties, such as service providers, advertisers, business partners. which can increase the risk of leaks and exposure.

Other common risks when shopping on Temu typically involve issues with product safety and quality. Since Temu, like many other e-commerce platforms, allows third-party sellers, it’s sometimes impossible to know if the product you’re buying comes from a reliable provider. That makes it perfect for scammers hunting for unsuspecting buyers in order to trick them into poor deals.

How to spot a Temu scam

You don’t have to be a cybersecurity expert to notice the Temu scam. Sometimes all it takes is your gut — if an offer seems suspicious or too good to be true, it likely is. Here are some additional tips on how to spot a Temu scam:

• Check for grammatical errors in text and visuals. Typos in emails and messages along with oversized and blurry visuals on websites are all indications that you’re not dealing with a legitimate entity. If you notice details that make you question the content you’re interacting with, treat it with suspicion.
• Look for phrases that suggest a sense of urgency. Phishing scams rely heavily on forcing people into quick action. The best way to do that is by inducing a strong emotional response, such as anxiety or excitement. Be skeptical of emails that pressure you to act fast, and always double-check messages by visiting the official Temu website.
• Take a closer look at the sender's email address. It’s impossible to duplicate an email address. While scammers might spoof some email domains (for example, “@temusupport.com”), you can always compare it to emails that you’ve gotten from the official Temu website before. If the handles don’t match, you will know instantly that you’re dealing with a scammer.
• Test links via link checker tools. To avoid phishing links, it’s best to use online link checkers tools that will verify whether the website is legitimate. Desktop users can also hover the mouse cursor over a link and check the tab that appears on the bottom left of the screen. If the links don’t match (or the destination website’s domain looks suspicious), avoid clicking on it.
• Check user reviews carefully. If you consider buying merchandise from unverified Temu sellers, make sure to check the reviews carefully. Remember, even the top sellers have average or negative reviews, so be skeptical of sellers that only receive positive and vague feedback. In addition, avoid sellers that don’t include a return policy in their listings.

How to shop safely on Temu and avoid scams

It’s impossible to entirely avoid encounters with scammers, especially if you’re an avid online shopper. However, you can limit your chances of suffering a Temu scam if you remember a few simple tips:

• Download the Temu app only from official sources. This is the best and simplest way to avoid fake apps.
• Avoid unsolicited links. Be wary of links in emails, especially if the pages they lead to request sensitive information.
• Shop with star sellers. While it may be a bit pricier, shopping from verified (and usually popular) sellers will lower the chances of getting scammed.
• Avoid "too good to be true" deals. A general rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true — it most likely is.
• Use strong passwords. Strong passwords increase your resilience to brute force attacks. It’s also healthy to use different passwords for different accounts to reduce the chances of multiple account hijackings, in case of credential theft.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA). With 2FA, even if your credentials get exposed, scammers will not be able to access your account (that is unless they get access to your authenticator app or you manually approved the unauthorized login attempt).
• Use a dedicated email account. Using separate email addresses for banking, social media, and e-commerce accounts might reduce the risk of exposing all of your sensitive data in case one of the accounts gets compromised.
• Use secure payment methods. If cash is king, then wire transfers and gift cards are outlaws (at least as payment for Temu’s listings). Avoid sellers that request payments via unknown apps or payment links, and only use trusted payment methods.
• Limit data sharing. Shop safety on Temu indirectly depends on how much data you share with the platform. To avoid Temu scams, consider using a secondary email address not tied to your financial accounts and limit data sharing to a minimum.

Pro tip: For more online security, consider subscribing to identity theft protection services such as NordProtect. Along with dark web monitoring, it assists with identity theft recovery (insurance included), giving you more peace of mind when browsing online.

What to do if you get scammed on Temu

If you have gotten scammed on Temu, time is of the essence. Even if you’ve fallen for a phishing scam, you can still prevent the worst if you manage to follow these steps in time: 

• Change your password. If you still have access to your Temu account, do this immediately. That will prevent scammers from hijacking your account with your exposed credentials.
• Report the scam to Temu. Contacting Temu customer service will help the platform deal with the problem quicker.
• Inform your bank. If you’ve exposed your financial information, notify your bank about possible fraudulent activity. That way they'll know to block or reverse (if possible) suspicious transactions.
• Invest in identity theft protection. Subscribing to services like NordProtect’s scam protection will provide you more tools and assistance in case of identity theft. Consider signing up for service today so that you’d have more tools at your disposal in case of a Temu scam.

For more tips on how to protect your personal information online, check out our blog.