TEMU purchases led to money disappearing from cards

After placing orders on the popular marketplace TEMU, Ukrainian users began to report unauthorised deductions of funds from their bank cards en masse. Information about this is rapidly spreading on social media, where victims are sharing screenshots of suspicious transactions and urging others to be cautious.

Suspicions of data collection and surveillance

In addition to financial claims, speculations about potential spy activity by the application have begun to emerge. Some IT experts and users have expressed concerns that TEMU may be collecting personal data, and that the app itself could be used as a tool for covertly monitoring the device owner's activity.

There is no official confirmation of this yet, but in the context of hybrid warfare and active cyber threats, such suspicions are causing alarm among cybersecurity specialists.

What users are advised to do

Against the backdrop of growing scandals, users are strongly advised to delete the TEMU mobile application and, if necessary, to make purchases exclusively through the platform's official website, after first disabling the auto-save feature for card details.

It is also recommended to:

• Re-check all card transactions from the past few weeks.

• Set limits on online payments.

• Use separate virtual cards for online purchases.

Important: banks urge vigilance

Some Ukrainian banks have already started monitoring activity related to transactions following the use of TEMU, and recommend that clients immediately block their card and contact support at the slightest suspicion.