2024-02-04 12:17:00
unsplash photo If you’re a social media user, you’ve probably seen countless ads for Temu, a Chinese online marketplace that offers rock-bottom prices compared to the competition. 6 dollars for a pair of sports shoes, 10 dollars for a computer keyboard and more. With the huge variety of items, estimated at tens of millions, and the large amount of market-breaking offers, many were attracted to this site, so much so that today Temu is the most used shopping application in the world. At the same time, others wondered what Temu’s rise meant in terms of the environmental impact and safety of the products sold, and if the store was even legitimate.
More in-
Who is Temu?
Temu, the western arm of the Chinese retail giant Pingdoudou, allows buyers the opportunity to purchase directly from well-known Chinese manufacturers, who are known for pricing their products at extremely low prices. In addition, it allows users to accumulate credits that can be used as money for future purchases, through roulette games or by adding new users to the application.
However, the information security company ESET points out that the picture is not as rosy as it seems, and many of the customer reviews are not so bright. As of the time of writing, the site has a rating of 2.5/5 on the American Better Business Bureau, and a third of the reviews on Trustpilot are one star. Many users criticize Temu for flooding their email inbox with spam, difficulty accepting returns, and items arriving in poor condition or not arriving at all. In addition, concerns were raised regarding the possibility of using forced labor as part of the supply chain of the products.
What Is Temu? Read Before You ‘Shop Like a Billionaire’ https://t.co/3jjU5AjPAO
— PCMag (@PCMag) January 29, 2024
A US government agency has accused Temu and Chinese retailer Shein of potential data risks, which may be reminiscent of concerns surrounding the data collection practices of TikTok, another popular online service originating in China.
It is important to note that all of the above does not make Temu a blanket scam. However, criminals who engage in fraud are always attracted to places where there are users, and in this case – sticking to the Chinese retailer with the orange branding as a means of deceiving unsuspecting customers.
The five most popular Temu scams – these are some of the most common tactics identified:
1. “Leaked” nude photos of celebrities
If you want to get redeemable cash or rewards while shopping at Temu, you can do so by convincing other users to join the app using your referral code. But cybercriminals use social networks to get users to enter these codes. One of the methods is posting an erotic image of a famous person (eg on Twitter, TikTok, etc.) along with a vague message implying that the user will be able to access real nude images if they enter the code in Temu. Of course, there are really no such photos, and the criminal is accumulating more and more references.
2. Bonuses in Fortnite or Roblox
In a manner similar to that described in the previous tactic, a cybercriminal will publish a post on one of the social networks, in which he will claim that users can get access to a Roblox gift card – Robux, which will allow them to purchase upgrades for their character or purchase special abilities on the site. All they have to do to claim the prize is enter the referral code in the Temu app. Another common bait is an offer for rare Fortnite skins. The criminal is taking advantage of the curiosity of social network users and the fact that Temu is still not so well known.
3. Counterfeit DUPE products
Tamio’s sister company, Pingdoudou is on the US list of “markets known as counterfeit and piracy markets”. It has not yet been stated that fake products are being sold at Temu. However, there have been reports of “copycat” products that approach the boundaries of patent infringement, but do not cross them. For example, if a particular user enters any Apple product into the search bar, they may see very similar items at a fraction of the cost of an original product. Buyers who are not experienced enough in online purchases may not be satisfied with the product they receive.
4. Celebrity products
Another scam that uses social media and takes advantage of Temu’s appeal involves fake celebrity posts that appear to have a business partnership with the Chinese online marketplace. Here again, the ultimate goal of the scam is to get the celebrity’s fans to visit the site and enter the referral code, in order to win the opportunity to purchase products from that celebrity at a discount. And here too, there is no such deal, and these codes add the cybercriminal more cash or rewards for using Temu.
5. Scams 90% off
You should also be wary of advertisements and emails that promise huge discounts on a wide variety of items for sale on Temu. They will use classic social engineering techniques such as creating a sense of urgency through limited time offers and steep discounts. However, clicking on the link in these advertisements or messages will lead you to a phishing site impersonating the original site, through which the criminals will collect your credit information. Now they have your personal and financial details, but you will never receive your order.
How will you stay safe while shopping at Temu?
To Temu’s credit, it should be noted that they are improving their security by launching a bug hunting program, while also trying to reduce the amount of fraud attempts on the platform. Recently, Temu won a preliminary injunction from a US court against websites impersonating their website. However, the information security company ESET explains that you must be vigilant and remember the following tips:
1. Never click on links that appear in advertisements or surprising email messages.
2. If you want to check a Temu offer posted online, visit their website directly.
3. Do not save your payment details in the account. In addition, set up two-step verification so that the account is protected by more than just a password. Today, Temu offers two-step verification based on SMS, which, although it does not approach the level of safety made possible by physical security keys or dedicated authentication apps, is still better than remaining without two-step verification at all.
4. Avoid entering offers that require you to enter a Temu referral code – especially those involving famous people.
5. Carefully examine what you are buying to avoid disappointment upon receiving the product.
6. The Temu platform does offer special deals and low prices, but too big discounts may turn out to be a scam. Do a web search to see if anyone has already mentioned the offer you’re looking at.
If you spend anytime online, you’ve likely seen ads & shares from Temu, the online shopping App that sells cheap stuff that takes forever to arrive. Before you start sharing personal information with #Agoyou should know that they are based in Communist CHINA. #DontBuyFromTemu pic.twitter.com/wTOTPYjIVD
— David Burke ???????? ???????? (@ConservativeTht) January 6, 2024
In general, it is recommended to be careful and consider what data you transfer to the Temu application and what permissions you allow it, or any other mobile phone application. Here are some easy-to-implement safety measures you can use if you’re worried about exposing too much information to Temu or other online stores and services:
1. Consider using the platform’s website instead of the app.
2. Avoid connecting to Temu through your account on social networks and from connecting the account to other online accounts.
3. Use single-use credit cards or payment services like PayPal to avoid the damages associated with a possible leak of your credit card information.
While there is no evidence that the entire site is a scam, cybercriminals can still use it to defraud shoppers. We recommend that you exercise extra caution in any case where you make online purchases.
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