Authorities have raised the alarm over a wave of frauds impersonating Temu, a well-known shopping platform. In this scheme, criminals recreate their visual identity to deceive users and capture information personal or financial.
According to Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City, scammers spread links and messages that imitate official communications and redirect to pages that look legitimate. There they promise gifts, exclusive coupons or “mystery boxes” in exchange for sensitive data.
How scams impersonating Temu operate
The modus operandi is based on the trademark impersonation: ads on networks, emails and cloned websites that replicate colors, fonts and logos to inspire false confidenceOnce inside, the victim is asked to fill out forms or "complete a purchase" with their information.
The link often points to apocryphal sites designed to look official, where full names, passwords, or card numbers are requested. The goal is to make the user believe they are participating in a royal promotion when, in fact, you are providing your information to third parties.
The damage is not limited to unauthorized charges. There is also the risk of identity theft, since with the stolen data they could open accounts, request credits or commit other crimes on behalf of the victim.
Signs to detect an impersonation attempt
- promises of impossible discounts, gifts or prizes for a very limited time.
- Web addresses with misspellings, strange or unfamiliar domains https.
- requests for bank details or passwords outside the usual app process.
- messages with poor writing, excessive urgency or inconsistent senders.
Recommendations for safe shopping
La Cyber Police Insist on simple habits that make a difference: check who writes to you and do not enter from received linksAlways access the store by typing in the official URL or from the installed app.
- Check the URL before entering data: must begin with https and be spelled correctly.
- Use payment methods with protection (virtual cards or services with coverage for the buyer).
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) in your accounts whenever possible.
- Don't keep cards on multiple platforms and keep devices and apps updated.
- Share these security alerts with your environment to prevent more victims.
What to do if you've already shared data or made a payment
If you suspect that you have been deceived, act without delay to limit the impact: Protect your payment methods, change passwords and notify the authorities so that can assist and block new maneuvers.
- call your bank to block or replace cards and review transactions.
- Change passwords mail, online banking and payment applications.
- Report the incident to the Cyber Police Unit: 55 5242 5100 ext. 5086, and to the email policia.cibernetica@ssc.cdmx.gob.mx.
- setup transaction alerts and avoid responding to suspicious messages.
To stay up to date with new warnings, you can consult the official accounts @SSC_CDMX y @UCS_GCDMX, where they are published digital security notices and updated recommendations.
Impersonating well-known brands to capture data is not new, but Temu-like scams rely on disruptive offers and very successful websites. With a basic sender verification, secure domain and payment methods, in addition to 2FA and updated systems, it is possible to significantly reduce risk and react in time if something goes wrong.