THEY are the must-have craze of the summer – with celebrities and punters fighting to get their hands on the “ugly-cute” dolls.
But dodgy dealers looking to make a quick buck are using underhand tactics to profit off desperate shoppers – and the UK is cracking down.
Labubus have unquestionably become the must-have toy of the year, with celebrities such as Rihanna, David Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Gemma Collins, and Olivia Attwood showcasing these little creatures.
The dolls, with their mischievous toothy smiles, wide eyes, and bunny-like ears, have captured the internet’s fascination and caused a frenzy, as people form mile-long lines to acquire them.
A single doll can cost anywhere from £13.50 to £211 depending on the rarity of the design.
But behind the adorable toys, the sinister underworld of the Chinese black market emerges that poses a serious threat to Brit consumers.
Reports indicate that more than 100,000 fake dolls have already been confiscated by UK Border Force, arriving in swift shipments or through air cargo.
The “monster elves” are sold in blind boxes, meaning consumers can’t see their new doll until it is unwrapped.
This clever marketing tactic designed to build suspense has been deliberately exploited by counterfeiters who are packing the boxes with cheap dupes.
The fake dolls are known as Lafufus and they are flooding the global market – selling for as little as £2.99.
These imitations often look vastly different from the originals, with online videos showing dolls missing teeth, with bulging eyes, or with limbs that easily fall off.
But the fakes can have devastating health risks for buyers.
People have labeled Lafufus as “nightmare fuel” after witnessing them disintegrate due to poor-quality materials that are highly flammable and pose toxic risks.
Councils have warned that children in Scotland and Wales have fallen ill following exposure to the dolls.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has seized more than 32 keyrings and 95 boxes of fake dolls that didn’t have adequate safety testing.
Similar recalls have been imposed in North Ayrshire, with 370 Lafufus confiscated.
Two stores in Douglas on the Isle of Man have also been raided with 200 dolls seized by authorities.
Boxes of dupes have been found in Pontypridd, Holyhead, Lancashire and London.
Helen Barnham, Deputy Director of Enforcement at the Intellectual Property Office, stated to The Sun, “Criminals are increasingly taking advantage of viral toy trends, producing counterfeit items within mere days of a product gaining popularity.”
“These counterfeit toys are unlikely to have undergone the rigorous safety testing required for genuine products and can pose serious safety risks.
“Children’s safety must always come first, and we encourage parents to always research products thoroughly and only purchase from trusted sources.”
Counterfeit products are the second biggest source of criminal income worldwide behind illegal drugs.
And most counterfeit products are being imported into the UK from China, Türkiye, and Hong Kong.
Labubus were created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and are sold exclusively by Chinese retailed Pop Mart.
China has hailed the product, with its state-run paper People’s Daily claiming: “Labubu’s rise fuses China’s strong manufacturing base with creative innovation, tapping into the emotional needs of global consumers.”
And in a country known for manufacturing cheap products exported worldwide, China says Labubus represent a shift from “Made in China” to “Created in China”.
The success of the dolls is marking a shift in the communist state’s approach to its criminal trade of fakes which have plagued consumers for decades.
More than 46,000 fake toys were intercepted in China in June before they reached the public.
The shipments had the Pop Mart logo printed on the packaging.
Chinese state media warned that “outlaws” are capitalising on the hype as the black market booms.
The superpower has long been known as the counterfeit capital of the world, with Western brands regularly duped with fakes made in China.
The global market for counterfeit products is valued at an eye-watering £380billion with Chinese makers reaping the majority of the wealth.
While the government has been accused of turning a blind eye to its flourishing counterfeit economy, it is now cracking down on the criminal trade.
The changing landscape has been sparked by China no longer wanting to be a factory for the world, but instead rival the US with leading brands.
Ripping off Western companies with counterfeit products was one thing, but China does not want to lose out by having its own products duped.
This has led to Xi Jinping strengthening intellectual property rights, making it harder for fakers to sell knock-off dupes.
Protecting its homegrown brands and success stories like Labubu dolls by seizing as many fakes as it can is now considered a major national priority as China seeks to flex its muscles increasingly in the economic and cultural stage.
How to spot a fake Labubu
The UK government has issued warnings about what shoppers should look out for when buying a Labubu.
Check the look and feel of the toy
Does the product look and feel like an authentic product? Sellers of fakes often make spelling mistakes in descriptions and sometimes on the products themselves.
If the packaging feels flimsy or shiny, this could be a sign it’s not a genuine labubu.
Real labubus also come with a QR code to verify the product but be wary of codes that take you to another site or a false look-alike PopMart site.
Be wary of low prices and unfamiliar websites
Whether buying online or in person, question the price if much cheaper than the genuine price you would expect to pay from PopMart.
Many sellers of fakes use unfamiliar social media shops or websites with the aim of conning you out of your hard earned cash.
Always check the domain name is authentic and double check reviews and make sure they have a returns policy.
Fake platforms will often offer no way of contacting the business which is a sign that it may not exist.
Stay safe from potentially dangerous fake toys
Fake toys may look like the real thing and be much cheaper, but they can also be dangerous and cause harm.
Fake toys are not produced to the same high safety standards as real toys and could feature small, poorly made parts that could be a choking hazard or even contain potentially toxic chemicals.
If you believe you have purchased a fake Labubu or other toy for your child, you can report this to your local Trading Standards or to Crimestoppers online.
