The safest way to avoid a fake Labubu is to buy from Pop Mart or a reputable, traceable retailer and verify the exact product release. Packaging clues can help, but no sticker, QR code, tooth count, or photograph proves authenticity by itself.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned that counterfeit Labubu plush products, sometimes called “Lafufu,” may break apart and create a choking hazard for young children. Treat authenticity as a product-safety question, not only a collector-value question.
1. Check the seller before the toy
Start with the sales channel. A seller should have a verifiable business identity, a clear return policy, and a record of selling the specific release. Be cautious when a scarce product is offered far below its normal retail price, when stock photographs replace photographs of the actual item, or when the seller will not show the packaging and verification label.
Marketplace presence alone is not proof of authorization. If a listing claims to be an official store, compare its domain or marketplace account with links from Pop Mart’s own regional website.
2. Inspect the QR code destination carefully
The CPSC says authentic Pop Mart Labubu products feature a scannable QR code that leads to the official Pop Mart site. Scan the code without entering personal or payment information, then inspect the full destination domain.
A page that copies Pop Mart colors or logos can still be fraudulent. Look for
the real popmart.com domain and be suspicious of misspellings, added words,
unfamiliar country-code domains, or a request to install an app. A QR code can
be copied, so combine this check with the seller, packaging, and product
details.
3. Look for the holographic label and newer UV mark
According to the CPSC, authentic products feature a holographic Pop Mart sticker, and newer editions may include a subtle UV stamp on one foot. The presence, placement, and design can vary by series and production period.
Counterfeiters can imitate labels, so a hologram or UV mark should support other evidence rather than override obvious problems. Compare the item with official photographs of the same named series, not a different Labubu release.
4. Check the face, teeth, color, and construction
The CPSC notes that authentic Labubu figures have nine teeth, while some fakes use the wrong number. It also identifies overly bright colors as a possible warning sign.
Use these as screening clues, not universal authentication rules. Compare:
- the number and spacing of the teeth;
- eye placement and paint alignment;
- ear and face proportions;
- fabric density and seam quality on plush products;
- joints, accessories, and included cards;
- the product color against official images of the exact release.
A damaged authentic item may have poor alignment, while a sophisticated fake may copy obvious visual details. Construction quality is only one part of the check.
5. Match the box to the exact release
Confirm the series name, character name, product type, and size. Packaging should use consistent spelling and include manufacturer, distributor, age, and safety information appropriate to the market where it was sold.
Do not compare a vinyl figure box with a vinyl-plush box or assume that every regional release uses identical labels. Pop Mart changes packaging and anti-counterfeit features over time.
What to do if you suspect a fake
- Stop giving the item to a young child, especially if parts detach easily or required safety labels are missing.
- Save the listing, receipt, seller messages, packaging, and photographs.
- Ask the retailer or payment provider about its counterfeit-goods process.
- Report a US safety incident or defective product through SaferProducts.gov.
- Contact Pop Mart through the support channel on its official regional site if you need product-specific verification guidance.
Do not resell an item as authentic when its origin cannot be established.
Why the distinction matters
Kasing Lung created Labubu, while Pop Mart commercializes the best-known licensed products. A counterfeit copies that identity without authorization and may also bypass applicable toy-safety requirements. The CPSC says it requested the seizure of thousands of lookalike units after investigators found products that violated US small parts rules.
Sources
- US CPSC consumer safety warning for fake Labubu products
- US CPSC action on counterfeit safety labels
- Pop Mart official regional store
- Pop Mart profile of Kasing Lung and The Monsters
Safety and authentication guidance reviewed July 15, 2026. Packaging can change, so confirm the exact release with current official information.