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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 24, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Amazon ( 108 ), brushing scam ( 23 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), TEMU, unwanted packages   

  Temu gets in on brushing scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The brushing scam has plagued Amazon users for some time now. The brushing scam is a fraudulent practice where unscrupulous sellers send unsolicited packages to individuals to manipulate product ratings and reviews on e-commerce platforms, mainly Amazon. These sellers use real individuals’ personal information to place orders for their own products. They then ship low-cost items to the addresses of these unsuspecting recipients.

  After the delivery, the seller posts positive reviews under the customer accounts, artificially boosting the product’s ratings and visibility. This scam not only confuses recipients, who receive items they never ordered, but also undermines the integrity of online marketplaces by inflating product ratings and reviews, ultimately deceiving genuine consumers.

  Now, along with third-party sellers from Amazon, it appears as if similar sellers from TEMU are getting in on the act. TEMU is an e-commerce platform that connects buyers and sellers globally, offering a wide range of products including electronics, fashion, home goods, and more. TEMU has faced criticism for issues related to product quality and customer service.

  Users have reported receiving items that do not match descriptions and experiencing delays in shipping, raising concerns about the platform’s reliability and transparency. Additionally, TEMU’s marketplace structure has been scrutinized for potentially prioritizing seller profits over consumer protection, highlighting the need for more stringent oversight and better support systems for both buyers and sellers.

  Recently, a family in Illinois found dozens of boxes from TEMU on their doorstep, containing items like military hats and cameras. These individuals, like many others, had not ordered these items, prompting confusion and concern.

  If you find yourself on the receiving end of an unsolicited package from Amazon, Temu, or any other retailer, the Better Business Bureau recommends the following steps to protect your personal information. Contact the retailer and ask them to investigate any fraudulent purchases associated with your account. If possible, reach out to the retailer and request the removal of any phony reviews written in your name.

  Review your online e-commerce accounts for any recent orders you did not make. Update the passwords for your online accounts to enhance security and enable two-factor authentication. Lastly, keep an eye on your credit reports and credit card statements for any unusual activity.

  By taking these measures, you can protect yourself from the deceptive practices of brushing scams and safeguard your personal information. If you receive an unexpected package, remember that you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you address the issue.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 21, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: identity theft ( 107 ), mystery box, online shopping ( 33 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), social media ( 79 ), TEMU   

  A TEMU scam that’s not TEMU’s fault 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Last week, we gave our opinion on the online shopping platform TEMU. We advised our readers that TEMU is full of third-party vendors who are getting a reputation for selling knockoffs if an item is delivered at all. TEMU itself has been accused of stockpiling customers’ personal information for less than legitimate purposes. This is all made even more suspicious since TEMU is based in China, where laws concerning personal information are looser than those in the US. However, there’s a scam now going around using TEMU’s name where TEMU isn’t responsible.

  Across social media, ads are being placed where a $1 ‘mystery box’ appears to be offered by TEMU. The ad shows boxes full of high-end items like phones, laptops, and other pricey computer equipment. While TEMU does offer mystery boxes for sale, they’re not being sold for $1, and it’s almost a guarantee an iPhone won’t be included.

  If someone clicks on the ad, they’re taken to a third-party website that has no connection to TEMU. Once at the site, users are asked to enter personal and financial information to receive their supposed mystery box. This is an obvious ploy to use the name of the latest shopping sensation in order to steal someone’s identity and money.

  If you see ads like this that sound too good to be true on social media, they probably are. If you do click on an ad that appears to come from a well-known service, make sure the URL of the website is the correct one. If the URL doesn’t reflect the service you were looking to use, close out of that site immediately, even if it looks identical to the real thing. To best protect yourself when shopping online, use a credit card whenever possible, since credit cards offer more protection when it comes to fraudulent products.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 15, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cybersecurity ( 37 ), identity theft ( 107 ), online shopping ( 33 ), Scams ( 1,366 ), TEMU   

  Is it safe to shop on TEMU? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In case you haven’t heard, TEMU is the latest online shopping sensation. Thanks to their glitzy advertising campaigns, TEMU has taken off in popularity. Social media is flush with posts of people posting their hauls from TEMU. So, is TEMU any good and is it reliable? If we were pushed to give a yes or no answer, we would side with no.

  TEMU is the latest in a string of direct retailers based in China. You may have heard of some of their competitors, such as AliExpress or Wish. Rather than selling items themselves, TEMU allows companies and distributors to sell Chinese-made goods through their portal to customers in the West.

  TEMU’s predecessors, the aforementioned AliExpress and Wish, have garnered a reputation of selling shoddily made or counterfeit goods, along with long shipping times if the item is shipped at all. TEMU seems to be following in their footsteps, but those aren’t the only drawbacks to using TEMU.

  According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TEMU is harvesting customer data like there’s no tomorrow. The BBB says that TEMU is collecting such information as the customer’s name, phone number, address, birthdate, social media photos, and even social security numbers. So how is that different from the major U.S. retailers?

  The BBB is concerned that since TEMU is based in China, scammers, identity thieves, and other bad actors may have easier access to that data. While data leaks do happen in the U.S., there are laws to try to protect those affected by the leaks and admonish the leakers. Many other countries do not have such laws, especially when the victims of such leaks are from another country from the other side of the world.

  In a world where personal information is more valuable than ever, it’s essential to tread carefully when navigating the digital marketplace. While TEMU offers enticing deals and a wide range of products, it’s crucial to remember that convenience shouldn’t come at the cost of your personal data security.