Temu is known for offering just about anything you could want at incredibly low prices. Maybe it’s just luck, but I’ve placed almost ten orders on the platform and haven’t been scammed yet. While there are heaps of scams on Temu, I have a few handy tips for avoiding them.
5Only Order Products With Genuine Reviews
While this may sound ridiculously obvious, the first thing you should do when ordering any product on an online platform is check customer reviews. Whether it’s a well-known platform like Amazon or something like Shein or Temu, it’s equally important in both cases.
Vendors are notorious for using high-quality, well-photographed imagery and convincing product descriptions. Combine that with Temu’s minimal pricing, and it becomes all too easy to be swayed into buying something that may not live up to your expectations.
When checking reviews, I recommend focusing on detailed, authentic-sounding reviews with high star ratings. Since many products on Temu use identical product images, it can be tricky to tell what you’ll actually receive. That’s why I always prioritize reviews with photos and videos, as they give a clearer picture of what to expect.
Since many vendors on Temu sell the same (or similar) product, I avoid purchasing items if I notice even a few negative reviews and instead look for another vendor offering the same item.
Sure, I might take the risk if it’s just one bad review out of a hundred. But if there’s a clear pattern of complaints, it’s usually not worth it. Always trust your gut!
The best part? You can filter products by customer reviews while shopping. Search for the product, click the Filters button, scroll down to the Customer Reviews section, and select your preferred option. Personally, I filter by “4 stars and up.”
Keep in mind that sometimes a product may only have a few reviews, and if they’re rated highly, it will still pass through the filter. That’s why it’s important to take the time to carefully browse through the reviews to avoid any unpleasant surprises when your order arrives. Has the reviewer left the same few words on hundreds of other items? That’s usually a giant red flag.
4Always Check Vendor Reviews
Like Amazon, Temu has listings for thousands of third-party vendors. While it’s important to check how customers are reviewing a specific product, it’s equally (if not more) important to check vendor reviews. This is because pricing, quality, and customer service vary depending on the vendor.
For instance, Stanley-style tumblers are currently all over my Temu feed. I want to order one, and nearly all the ones I shortlisted had stellar customer reviews. So, I let the vendors decide for me!
When you click on a product, you’ll see a “Sold by [vendor’s logo]” tag. Clicking it redirects you to the vendor’s seller page, where you can check how long they’ve been selling on Temu and view their other products. You’ll also see their followers and the number of items they’ve sold. Switch to the Reviews tab and take some time to read through them.
At times, brands sell products directly on Temu. In that case, you’ll see something like “Direct from [brand name]” on the product listing or vendor page.
When I compared two vendor pages, I bought my tumbler from the seller who joined Temu later and sold fewer items because it was the actual brand selling the product, and it felt like a better trade-off.
Don’t let high sales numbers or how long a vendor has been on Temu fool you! Vendors sometimes let their quality slip once they gain traction. So, always check recent reviews to see if they maintain their standards. It’s also worth checking if too many over-positive reviews are focused on certain aspects of the product, as that could be a red flag for fake reviews.
3Avoid Buying From New Sellers
It’s generally smart to be cautious about new sellers. On Temu, you’ll often see text like “Seller established X years ago” just below the star rating.
A newer seller isn’t necessarily a bad sign, but if their products don’t have the best reviews (or have reviews that seem too good), it might be wise to avoid buying from them.
2Use a Disposable Payment Card
One of the worst notifications you can get is from your bank, informing you of an unauthorized charge on your card. Unfortunately, this has become all too common with Temu. There are more than a few posts on Reddit claiming fraudulent card charges, which began only after placing orders on Temu. Many customers reported this happening after their first order, with some claiming to have lost nearly $900!
Temu accepts a variety of payment methods, including major credit and debit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. The platform also supports payments through third-party services like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. I always use a disposable card to avoid the risk of fraud, like a prepaid Visa or a disposable virtual card from services such as Privacy.com.
These cards typically have a set spending limit and expire within a specific timeframe, depending on the service you use. Since they aren’t directly linked to your bank account, you don’t need to worry about your payment details being misused without your knowledge.
1Remove My Card After Placing an Order
If you can’t use a disposable payment method and have no option but to use a credit or debit card, always remove your card immediately after placing an order. I can’t emphasize this enough—remove it the second after you place your order. Several friends of mine mentioned that their cards were charged twice, once when they placed their order and again a few hours later.
Related
I Got Scammed on Temu: Don’t Make the Same Mistake
I certainly won’t be shopping there ever again.
While Temu’s support page claims that seeing duplicate charges is just an authorization hold, not a double charge, this wasn’t the case for my friends. Unfortunately, Temu’s “24/7” customer service was barely cooperative, and since their banks wouldn’t help either, they had no choice but to accept the loss. It’s been months, and they still haven’t gotten their money back. Unfortunately, they eventually gave up and deleted their Temu account entirely.
Temu is full of scams you might not even realize. So, it’s best to take no chances. I actually have an order on the way from Temu as I write this, and I may have just jinxed my luck by writing this article, but following all the tips above has helped me order safely so far.
