Labubu, the trendy line of collectible plush toys, has captured the hearts of fans worldwide, but its rising popularity has also led to the emergence of convincing counterfeits. The fan community has nicknamed these fakes “Lafufus,” as some of them are nearly indistinguishable from authentic Labubu figures.
This has prompted collectors to take extra measures to avoid inadvertently adding these replicas to their collections. Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, Labubu originated from The Monsters, a picture book series released in 2015, inspired by Nordic mythology.
The collectible toys gained significant exposure after a collaboration with Pop Mart and an unofficial endorsement from a BlackPink member, propelling Labubu into superstardom. As the Labubu brand has flourished, it has become increasingly targeted by counterfeiters.
Distinguishing genuine Labubu toys from impostors has become a challenge, but there are several ways collectors can verify authenticity. A primary method is to scan the QR codes found on the tags and boxes of the figurines.
Authentic Labubu QR codes typically lead to Pop Mart’s official authentication website, where users can verify figures by entering the last four digits of their authentication codes. To further ensure authenticity, collectors should look for details such as stitching quality, the number of teeth (real Labubus always have nine), and the texture of the fur.
Additionally, genuine toys will have embossed or UV logos on their feet, and starting in 2024, an exclusive Labubu head logo visible only under ultraviolet light. Since 2022, Labubu has expanded into multiple plush series, although some legitimate figurines may have production flaws resembling counterfeits.
The Big Into Energy Series, for instance, has had reports of models with uneven faces, especially in the blue Hope and green Serenity variants, highlighting the potential for confusion even among authentic products.