Is Temu safe to use? What you need to know

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Holiday shopping deals always spark excitement, and this year is no different. Many people have reached out with concerns about Temu, including Charles W, who wrote to ask,

Do you think TEMU is safe to use?  Seems like a China trick to get my info.

His question captures what many shoppers are wondering right now. Temu exploded in popularity by offering bargain pricing on gadgets and household items. The deals can feel hard to resist during peak shopping weeks. The flip side is that Temu continues to raise questions about safety, privacy, and how much data the app gathers from your phone.

Here is the latest on the shopping platform and what you should know before you buy.

 

 

 

Temu’s growth continues to surge

Temu now operates in more than 90 global markets. It works as a low-cost marketplace that connects shoppers with factories overseas, mainly in China. This model keeps prices low. It also means weaker quality control and less predictable oversight. As a buyer, you may not know who you are actually purchasing from.

 

New product safety issues are still appearing

Independent investigations in 2024 and 2025 uncovered items on Temu that failed basic safety tests.

• U.S. buyers continue to report counterfeit chargers, mislabeled electronics and items that look nothing like the listing
• Authorities in Seoul found children’s hats, toys and shoes with toxic chemicals above legal limits, including lead and harmful phthalates
• EU researchers discovered that 18 of 19 toys purchased on Temu broke safety rules

If a product touches your skin, plugs in or goes to a child, use extreme caution.

 

Scams tied to Temu continue to grow

Security analysts have flagged a rise in scams that use Temu’s brand to trick shoppers. Temu says these scams come from impersonators, not from the company or its courier partners, and says it works with trusted couriers. Here are some of the scams:

• Fake promo codes that lead to phishing pages
• Counterfeit customer support numbers that steal personal data
• Copycat Temu websites that collect credit card details
• Brushing scams where sellers send items you never ordered to boost fake reviews
• Social media giveaways that mimic Temu promotions

Temu is a real marketplace. The ecosystem around it creates openings that scammers use to target shoppers, such as the scam email below.

Temu says it actively fights these impersonation scams. The company reports taking legal action against dozens of fake Temu sites and apps, participating in the global Anti-Phishing Working Group to share threat intelligence, and operating a Safety Center with guidance to help users avoid scams, report suspicious activity and get support. Temu also says it offers 24/7 customer service for safety and security concerns.

Temu’s data collection

According to Temu, the app does not collect precise location data from users.  However , Temu says it does collect approximate location data but does not sell or share that data, and that an earlier claim suggesting otherwise came from a reporting error that has since been corrected.

Regulators have stepped in

Governments and agencies across multiple regions have taken action.
• In 2025, Temu’s U.S. operator agreed to a $2 million federal penalty for transparency failures related to the INFORM Consumers Act
• States such as Oklahoma and Nebraska have opened reviews into deceptive practices and data handling
• The EU issued warnings after repeated findings of unsafe and illegal products

Temu still operates, but the pressure around safety and transparency continues to build.

 

Is Temu safe?

Temu is a functioning shopping platform. Many buyers receive exactly what they order. The risk comes from the number of scams connected to the brand. Temu says it complies with applicable laws in each market where it operates and continues expanding its safety and consumer-protection measures.

We reached out to Temu, and a representative from the company provided CyberGuy with the following statement,

“Consumer safety is a top priority at Temu. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the markets where we operate and expect the same from our third-party sellers. All sellers undergo a vetting process and must affirm compliance with relevant product safety and regulatory standards. We review product listings, monitor continuously, and take corrective action, including takedowns, when necessary. We also work with globally respected testing and certification partners—such as Eurofins, TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, SGS, and Bureau Veritas—to help ensure products meet local regulatory and quality requirements.”

How to stay safer if you still want to use Temu

• Use a credit card for stronger fraud protection
• Delete saved payment methods after each purchase
• Skip items with no reviews or vague seller info
• Watch your bank statements for suspicious activity
• Avoid entering sensitive personal details into the app
• Treat “too good to be true” pricing as a warning sign
• Do not click unknown links tied to Temu deals or messages
• Install strong antivirus software to block dangerous sites and malware

 

How to reduce Temu’s data collection

You can limit what Temu sees by turning off some permissions.

iPhone 

• Open Settings.
• Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
• Tap Location Services → find Temu → set to While Using the App or Never.
• Still under Privacy & Security, tap Contacts → find Temu → set to Don’t Allow or None.
• Tap Photos & Media → find Temu → set to None.
• Back in the main Settings list, go to General → Background App Refresh → find Temu → toggle Off.
• In Settings → Temu (scroll down to the app entry) → toggle off Background App Refresh and disable Cellular Data if you wish.
• To review ad-tracking, go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → disable Allow Apps to Request to Track.
• Review all permissions in Settings → Privacy & Security → find Temu and verify nothing unwanted remains enabled.

Android

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer

• Open Settings → Apps → See all apps → tap Temu.
• Tap Permissions → review each permission (e.g., Location, Contacts, Files & media) → choose Deny or Allow only while using the app.
• In the same Temu app info page, tap Mobile data & Wi-Fi → toggle off Background data (so the app can’t use data when you’re not actively using it).
• Go back to Settings → Privacy & security → Permission manager → look for Temu -> further restrict or revoke permissions (especially Location, Nearby devices).
• (Optional) Use Settings → Security & privacy → Privacy dashboard to review recent accesses by Temu and revoke any you don’t like.
• Review “Display over other apps” or “Appear on top” permission (especially on Samsung/One UI) and disable it for Temu if present to avoid hidden overlays.

These steps help shrink the amount of data Temu can collect while you shop.

 

 

Related Links: 

• Protect your data before holiday shopping scams strike
• Why an email alias is my secret weapon for safer online shopping
• Black Friday early deals start now

 

 

 

 

Kurt’s key takeaways

Temu’s low prices make it easy to understand why so many shoppers flock to the app, especially during peak deal season. At the same time, the platform’s rapid growth has created a swirl of questions about product safety, data practices and scams that piggyback on its name. Temu says it collects approximate location data but does not sell or share it, and it continues taking action against impersonators, fake sites and phishing schemes that use its brand. If you decide to browse Temu, the safest approach is to stay alert, use strong payment protections and limit the data you share. The deals can be real, but so are the risks that come with a sprawling global marketplace.

What has your experience with Temu been so far? Have you found great deals or run into red flags? Let us know in the comments below. 

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