🛒 Temu shoppers in the US should be cautious of water run orders and tech orders, which are fake or illegal shipping orders created by Chinese vendors exploiting US logistics loopholes.
🔍 Water run accounts are set up using a USPS account under a trading company name, allowing vendors to sell items at low prices without incurring costs during a billing gap. These accounts are short-lived and replaced weekly.
💻 Tech orders involve fake shipping labels created by hacking into USPS's backend, allowing for nearly zero shipping costs. These orders can continue indefinitely until USPS enhances its security.
💰 Temu's low prices, such as a $6 lamp or $3.80 headphones, are due to exploiting USPS loopholes, poor working conditions, unlicensed products, and low production costs.
📉 In 2022, Temu surpassed Amazon in the US app store for free shopping apps, offering deals like 1-cent items with free shipping.
🔒 A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) claims Temu may be a spying tool disguised as an e-commerce site, collecting user data and having ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
🚨 Temu has faced accusations of exploiting US customs rules, selling goods linked to forced labor, and potentially being a channel for illegal substances.
⚖️ In June, Arkansas filed a lawsuit against Temu for violating state privacy laws and deceptive practices, claiming it collects personal data without user knowledge.
📦 Recent actions by USPS include seizing packages from water run orders, indicating a crackdown on illegal warehouse practices, especially in Houston.
🕵️♂️ Experts warn that Temu's operations may be backed by the Chinese government, raising concerns about its true purpose and the potential for data surveillance.
📱 The CCP's influence extends to various platforms, with TikTok being a prime example of a tool for misinformation and public opinion manipulation in the US.
🔍 Users are advised to thoroughly uninstall Temu to prevent lingering data surveillance issues if they decide to stop using the platform.