Is Temu Legit?

What is Temu?

Temu is an online marketplace that sells a broad spectrum of products on the app and the Temu website—from home goods to tech gadgets, device accessories, and clothing. Its popularity has skyrocketed since it was launched in late 2022. Temu’s prices are extremely low, making its products accessible to a wide range of consumers across various markets—including the US, UK, Africa, France, Netherlands, and more. The e-commerce business is a subsidiary of PPD Holdings, a Chinese-owned company.

Is Temu legit?

Yes, Temu is a legitimate app, as shoppers generally receive their orders. This means that Temu is a reliable app. However, several unfulfilled orders have been reported. Some people might argue that this makes Temu a scam or that Temu is fake. However, Temu's Purchase Protection Program exists for such matters. It guarantees a refund for eligible items—including damaged items, orders that didn’t arrive, and those that don't match the online listing. Overall, Temu is a real company selling real goods. Essentially, Temu is not fake.

While the company is legit, it is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Since its launch, Temu has amassed 2,485 customer complaints on the BBB website, with an overall rating of 2.65 stars out of 5 and a B-rated accreditation score. It’s worth noting that the business responds to reviews posted on the BBB website, unlike in the app, as reported by some users.

Is Temu safe?

For years, users and security experts have raised concerns about using Temu. Like most apps, Temu collects as much personal data as you’ll let it.

Some US officials have taken action against Temu to protect its citizens. In June 2024, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin filed a lawsuit against Temu, accusing the online marketplace of spying on users through its mobile app.

In the lawsuit, the Attorney General claims that Temu:

• Was created to gain unrestricted access to a phone’s operating system and collect info from the user's location data, camera, text messages, device apps, contacts, and documents
• Can override users’ data privacy settings meant for their protection
• Profits off the data it collects from users by selling it to third parties
• Was suspended by the App Store in 2023 for misrepresentations regarding the kind of data it collects from users and how it uses it
• Knowingly collects personally identifiable information (PII), including biometric data, using tools to intentionally carry out “dangerous malware and spyware activities”
• Contains app code that is intentionally designed to evade a device’s security measures, amends its code after downloading on users’ phones, and controls their devices remotely
• Shares users’ data with individuals and entities involved in Chinese law, including Chinese cybersecurity regulators, government officials, and national intelligence institutions.

Temu collects troves of data from users, including your:

• Name
• Birthday
• Address
• Phone number
• Social media profiles
• Photo
• GPS location
• Fingerprint
• IP address
• Browsing data
• Device’s operating system and version
• Information from third-party sources, including marketing partners, sellers, data brokers, social media, credit bureaus, and public records

Given how much data Temu collects about you, there’s no telling where it could end up. If your email address is included in a privacy breach, catching it quickly can help you mitigate further consequences, like becoming a victim of identity theft. Clario AntiSpy’s Data breach monitor checks the internet for data leaks containing your email address so you can quickly secure it and other online accounts.

Use Clario AntiSpy’s Data breach monitor to check if your email address is exposed:

1. Download Clario on your laptop and click on Data breach monitor > Add email > Enter your email address > Add email.
2. Clario will provide a report after completing the scan. If it finds breaches containing your email, hit Get verification code, paste the code you received in the text box, and select Verify email > Review a breach.
3. You can read more about the breach by clicking Show details and selecting Fix with expert.

Conclusion

Is Temu fake or legitimate? This is one of the many questions you may have asked yourself or others in your quest to learn more about the platform. Temu is real, having fulfilled orders for countless customers. However, Temu’s collection and use of consumer data is questionable and potentially a huge privacy and security risk. If you’ve used Temu in the past, it’s time to prioritize your online privacy. Start by using Clario Anti Spy’s Data breach monitor to check if your data was leaked in a breach.