Labubus have taken the internet by storm.
The viral plush creatures have been known to sell out in seconds, sparking a booming resale market — and counterfeits.
Across the United States, customers have reported scam Labubu vendors through the Better Business Bureau’s scamtracker tool. Some customers report vendors selling fake dolls, nicknamed “Lafufus,” while other customers said they never received a product at all.
The BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois said it has received four recent reports of scams related to the dolls, and the term “Labubu” produces over 60 results searching the tool nationally.
Those looking to purchase Labubu dolls should be cautious when vendors seem “too good to be true,” Steve Bernas, president and CEO of the BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois, warned. Rare, trendy items, like Labubus, are a “magnet” for scammers, Bernas added.
“They try to take advantage of the people’s emotion when trying to find something,” he said. “And once somebody finds something, they don’t do their due diligence and research.”
Purchasing through POP MART, the official retailer of Labubu dolls, is the easiest way to ensure a product is authentic.
“All products purchased through official POP MART sales channels—including our official website, official POP MART stores, ROBOSHOP vending machines, and other authorized online platforms—are guaranteed to be authentic and verifiable,” the POP MART website reads.
However, because the dolls sell out so quickly, customers often turn to resale vendors, some of which are not legitimate.
Bernas urged consumers to purchase from organizations they trust and do their research before providing financial information to a seller.
“If you’re buying it on TikTok or you’re buying it on Facebook Marketplace, it’s like going down a dark alley and buying it out of somebody’s car,” Bernas said. “You don’t know anything about them, so you wouldn’t do it in the traditional marketplace. Why would you do it on the online marketplace?”
Before purchasing from a seller, Bernas suggested customers check the Better Business Bureau website and scamtracker to find relevant information about the business. Still, even if the search yields no results, buying from a third-party is always a risk, he said. Customers may not receive an item or receive a counterfeit.
Some fake Labubus have visible differences from the authentic dolls. For example, they may have more than nine teeth or be missing the POP MART logo on one foot.
POP MART offers an online authenticity check. To verify the validity of a product, customers can scan the QR code label on the product or box to see if the item is genuine. Customers can also input the box label code instead of scanning.
If customers realize their Labubu is fake, they should contact their credit card company to dispute the charge, Bernas said. They should not use CashApp for these transactions because the app doesn’t offer the same protection, he added.
Customers who have encountered a scam retailer can also report the seller to the Better Business Bureau in the area they reside.