Is Temu Safe? The Cheap Prices May Cost You

Despite Temu's claims of secure transactions, the discount shopping app has raised concerns about potential data risks and poor product quality.

Sara J. Nguyen, Author

Kate Quinlan, Editor

Last updated Apr 26, 2024

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Maybe you found out about Temu after watching one of its six Super Bowl ads, or maybe you came across it on a trending TikTok video from an influencer. Temu catches a lot of attention due to its cheap pricing and wide variety of products. However, Temu has also raised concerns about data privacy and other issues with its sellers.

Keep reading to learn more about the controversies surrounding Temu and to see if it's a safe site to use. We'll also cover how to remove your data from the internet for maximum privacy by using the best data removal services.

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In this article

Is it safe to order from Temu?
What is the Temu controversy?
How does Temu work?
FAQs
Bottom line

Is it safe to order from Temu?

Temu has standard security measures for consumer transactions, although it doesn't share specific details. Temu claims it uses encryption, access control (which only allows authorized individuals to access sensitive data), and secure data storage.

The shopping platform also follows the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This standard was created to help protect consumers against credit card fraud and make safe payments. Additionally, Temu has a purchase protection program for consumers to get a refund if an order is wrong or lost in transit.

Temu is a legitimate company, but the sellers have the potential to scam shoppers. To shop safely on Temu, users should exercise caution when purchasing items and choose sellers with good reviews. This may help avoid issues with your order.

What is the Temu controversy?

Temu has faced a couple of controversies in recent years. While Temu is a legitimate company, the shopping platform and its third-party sellers often face copyright violations.

For example, Amazon sellers and Shien (a Temu competitor) have both filed lawsuits claiming that their listings were copied and put on the Temu site. Another issue is that sellers can list counterfeit products; for example, some users claimed that they were sold fake Air Jordans.

Beyond sketchy sellers, Temu has also raised some red flags regarding data privacy. Temu's parent company is PDD Holdings, which also owns Pinduoduo. The company had an Android app that was flagged for containing malware. The malicious software was able to access users' data, including private messages. Google suspended the app.

However, the Temu Android app is still available to download and doesn't seem to contain malware.

What user data does Temu collect?

When using any online site or app, it's important to know what user data it collects. Some of the data is necessary to create an account or complete a transaction. Here are some of the user data Temu collects when you use it.

Name
Address
Payment information
Purchase history
Browsing history

Temu collects data from other sources to build a profile about you. For example, it may receive updates from shipping partners about delivery progress or collect your profile picture if you signed up with a social media account.

Temu also gathers data from public sources like government agencies or other publicly available records. It doesn't say why or what data it's collecting from these sources, but it seems unnecessary.

The best data removal services for Temu users

Data removal services can help Temu users proactively protect their privacy, especially in the event of a data breach. It can scan the internet for your personal information and automatically start removing them from sites. Here are a few data removal services to consider.

DeleteMe: DeleteMe will scan the Internet every three months for your personal information and remove it. The automated service makes it easy to maintain your privacy online.

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Incogni: Incogni works to protect you from marketing data brokers who collect and sell your data for advertising purposes. Since Temu uses marketing partners to collect info about you, this might be a useful feature to maintain your privacy.

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Aura: Not only does Aura offer data removal services, but it also has identity theft protection like credit monitoring. It even has comprehensive digital security tools like antivirus software, a virtual private network (VPN), and a password manager.

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How does Temu work?

To make purchases with Temu, you need to create an account. You can use a phone number or email address to start an account. Alternatively, you can register with your Google, Facebook, Apple ID, or X account. From there, you can add products to your cart and purchase them.

Why is Temu so cheap?

Temu is an online marketplace similar to Amazon or AliExpress. It's a direct-to-consumer model meaning that customers can purchase directly from the seller without needing to visit a store. No middleman means Temu can offer lower prices.

Keep in mind that Temu isn't accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Currently, Temu has a Trustpilot rating of 3.2/5, with many customers claiming missing items or not being able to resolve issues with customer support.[1] However, it's worth comparing it to Amazon, which has a Trustpilot rating of 1.7/5.[2] Temu may be new, but transactions are generally considered safe to make as long as the purchaser follows best practices.

FAQs

Is it safe to order from Temu?

Temu provides SSL encryption, conducts regular security audits, and follows PCI DSS compliance for safe financial transactions. Overall, it's safe to order from Temu, but you need to be wary of sellers' scams. You should avoid responding to messages from sellers trying to direct you away from the Temu site or asking for personal information. These are probably scams, and you should report them to Temu.

Is the Temu app a security risk?

The Temu app is currently not flagged as a security risk. Temu's parent company, PDD Holdings, owns a company called Pinduoduo, which had a malicious Android app. However, it doesn't seem like the malware was installed in the Temu app, which is still offered on Google Play.

Is Temu a Chinese company?

Temu is owned by a Chinese company called PDD Holdings.

Is Temu legit?

Temu is a legit company that offers discounted items on an online marketplace platform. However, there are also some valid concerns about Temu regarding its data privacy practices, copyright violations, and potentially scammy third-party sellers. You should proceed with caution if you decide to use Temu.

Bottom line

Overall, the Temu platform is safe to use, but it does come with some risks. You should only purchase from reputable sellers with good reviews and use secure payment methods.

While there has been controversy surrounding Temu's parent company's use of malicious apps to harvest private data from users, Temu's Android app is currently safe to use and still available on Google Play.

Temu uses standard security measures like SSL encryption to protect transactions and your personal information. However, it does seem to have an invasive privacy policy, including collecting data from public records.

Using data removal services can help remove your personal information from the internet, reducing unwanted exposure and the chances of fraud. Read more about the best data removal services and how they can help you protect your privacy.

4.3

Editorial Rating

On DeleteMe's website

DeleteMe

Use code PARTNER20 for 20% off

Removes your data from the web to avoid scams, spam and stalkers
100+ million successful opt-out removals
Provides continued removals every three months
No 24/7 customer support

Author Details

Sara J. Nguyen

About the Author

Sara J. Nguyen is a freelance writer specializing in cybersecurity. She aims to help people protect their data while enjoying technology. She has written about online privacy and tech for over 5 years for several organizations. When she's not writing about the latest cybersecurity trends, you can find her on LinkedIn.