What common scams or counterfeit risks are reported by Temu shoppers in 2025?

1. Fake apps, phishing and impostor customer service — identity and payment risks

Consumers and security firms warn that scammers create replica Temu apps, phishing emails and fake customer‑service schemes designed to harvest login credentials, credit‑card details and other personal data; guides from cybersecurity outlets urge checking URLs and avoiding links in unsolicited messages ^{[1] [8] [2] [9]}.

2. Social‑media promo traps and bogus gift‑card giveaways — the lure of discounts

Several outlets document scams that push fake promo codes or “giveaway” schemes on platforms like TikTok and Instagram; victims who enter personal information or download dodgy apps often receive nothing while exposing themselves to fraud or identity theft ^{[10] [2] [1]}.

3. Seller fraud, misrepresentation and low‑quality items — buyer disappointment and financial loss

Shoppers frequently report receiving items that are poor quality, don’t match descriptions, or never arrive; reviewers and consumer guides note false product representations are common because Temu hosts many independent sellers and listings can vary widely in quality ^{[3] [11] [9]}.

4. Counterfeit goods and safety‑critical fakes — brands and consumer safety at stake

Investigations and brand complaints show systemic counterfeit activity on Temu, with attorneys general and industry groups saying the platform was “awash” in infringing products; independent buys and research found likely counterfeits across categories — including cosmetics, toys, luxury goods, and allegedly unsafe items such as fake car seats and OTC cold remedies — raising direct health and safety concerns ^{[12] [3] [6] [7]}.

5. Deceptive listings, manipulated reviews and gamified tactics — how the marketplace design can help scammers

Observers and reports highlight practices such as keyword hijacking, copycat listings, manipulated reviews, and “gamified” shopping features that can hide seller identities and make it harder to spot fraud; these structural issues helped drive regulatory scrutiny ^{[7] [4] [5]}.

6. Shipping and postage tricks — counterfeit labels and dodged costs

Investigative reporting shows some sellers used fake U.S. postage labels to keep prices ultralow and push packages through U.S. postal infrastructure, a practice that undercuts legitimate logistics and can create tracking confusion for buyers ^[13].

7. Enforcement and platform responses — limits and remedies

Regulators and industry groups pressed Temu: the FTC announced a $2 million settlement alleging violations of the INFORM Consumers Act for failing to provide consumer reporting mechanisms and transparent seller information in gamified listings, and Temu later faced lawsuits and brand takedown fights; Temu has disputed some claims and said it removed flagged products after reporting, but critics say enforcement and remediation are uneven ^{[5] [14] [15] [12]}.

8. Practical takeaways for shoppers — risk mitigation steps reported by experts

Security and consumer‑protection writeups recommend: download the official app only from verified stores, avoid clicking unsolicited links, scrutinize seller reviews and prices that look “too good,” pay with cards or protected methods, monitor statements for stray charges, and report suspect listings — actions echoed across security guides and consumer articles ^{[1] [8] [2] [9]}.

9. Reporting gaps and open questions — what available sources don’t settle

Available sources document many scam types and regulatory responses through 2025, but they do not provide definitive nationwide statistics on shopper losses, nor a complete catalogue of how frequently each scam occurs on Temu versus other marketplaces; sources also vary on the extent and speed of Temu’s corrective actions, with Temu contesting some legal allegations ^{[5] [12]}.

Conclusion — Temu is repeatedly described in consumer and cybersecurity reporting as a legitimate marketplace that nonetheless attracts a high volume of third‑party seller scams and counterfeits; the combination of very low prices, independent sellers, platform design features, and copycat sites/apps creates a broad risk surface that shoppers and regulators tried to address during 2025 ^{[1] [7] [5]}.