You’ve seen them everywhere. Those mischievous, serrated-teeth monsters dangling from Blackpink’s Lisa’s handbag or popping up in your Instagram feed. Labubu, the flagship character of Kasing Lung’s "The Monsters" series produced by Pop Mart, has shifted from a niche designer toy to a full-blown cultural phenomenon. But here is the problem. Because they are so incredibly popular and often sold out, the market is currently drowning in counterfeits.
It’s frustrating. You spend eighty bucks or more on a "confirmed" blind box from a third-party seller, only to open it and realize something feels... off. Maybe the fur is too stiff. Maybe the smell is weirdly chemical. Honestly, the counterfeiters are getting better every single day, which makes the task of how to know if a Labubu is real a genuine skill you need to master before dropping your hard-earned cash.
If you're buying from the official Pop Mart store on Tmall, their global website, or a physical flagship, you’re safe. But let’s be real. Most of us are hunting on eBay, Shopee, Carousel, or Facebook groups because that "Have a Seat" or "Macaron" series is sold out everywhere else.
The first thing you check isn't the toy—it's the box
Don't even touch the plush yet. Look at the packaging.
Pop Mart uses high-quality printing presses. On a genuine Labubu box, the colors are vibrant, and the lines are crisp. Fake boxes often look slightly blurry or "washed out," like the printer was running low on ink. Pay close attention to the logo. The "POP MART" text should be perfectly centered and embossed. If you run your finger over the logo and it feels flat or the silver foil is peeling at the edges, that’s a massive red flag.
Look at the side of the box where the character lineup is displayed. On authentic boxes, the names of the characters (like Pipi, Dada, or Quicquic) are printed clearly. Fakes often have typos. Sometimes they even mix up the names entirely. It sounds stupid, but counterfeiters often rush the text.
The seal matters too. Pop Mart uses a specific type of adhesive that doesn't leave a gooey, sticky residue when peeled carefully, whereas fakes often use cheap tape that looks "yellowish" or feels overly tacky.
The QR code mystery
Every modern Pop Mart product comes with a scratch-off authenticity sticker. This is arguably the most important step in how to know if a Labubu is real.
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You scratch the coating to reveal a QR code. When you scan it, it should take you to the official Pop Mart verification domain (usually anti-counterfeiting.popmart.com). If the site looks sketchy, or if the URL is something weird like popmart-verify-now.net, close the tab.
Wait. There is a catch.
The "first scan" is everything. The system tracks how many times a code has been scanned. If you scan it and it says "This code has been queried 15 times," you’re holding a fake. Scammers print one legitimate QR code and photocopy it onto thousands of fake boxes. It should say "1" or "First time scanned." If the seller says "Oh, I scanned it just to check for you," be skeptical.
Feeling the fur and checking the "squish"
Once you get the Labubu out of the box, the tactile experience tells the story.
The Macaron series is the most faked version right now. A real Macaron Labubu has fur that is soft, almost like a high-end plushie from a boutique. It shouldn't feel "plastic-y" or scratchy. When you brush the fur with your thumb, it should move naturally. Fake ones often use cheap synthetic fibers that feel like those stuffed animals you win at a sketchy carnival. They feel "crunchy."
Check the face.
Labubu’s face is made of a matte PVC material. It should be smooth and perfectly painted. Look at the eyes. On a real one, the pupils are perfectly aligned and the "shimmer" in the eye is printed precisely. Counterfeits often have "lazy eyes" where one pupil is slightly higher than the other, or the paint spills over the edge of the eye socket onto the fur.
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Then, there’s the snout. The blush on Labubu’s cheeks should be a soft, blended gradient. Fakes often have "harsh" circles of pink paint that look like they were applied with a stamp.
The weight and the "bean" factor
Authentic Labubus have a specific weight. They aren't hollow. If you squeeze the feet of a Macaron Labubu, you should feel small plastic pellets—often called "beans"—inside. These give the plush some weight so it can sit upright. Fakes often skip the beans and just use cheap polyester stuffing. If your Labubu feels light as a feather and won't sit up on its own, it’s likely a dud.
The "Feet" and the hidden branding
Flip the monster over.
On the bottom of a real Labubu's foot, there should be a "POP MART" and "Kasing Lung" stamp. It’s not just printed on; it’s embossed into the material. The font must be the official Pop Mart font. Counterfeiters often use a generic "Arial" or "Helvetica" look-alike because they don't have the original vector files.
Check the stitching on the feet too. Pop Mart’s quality control is usually quite high. The seams should be tight and hidden. If you see loose threads or "gaps" where the fabric meets the PVC foot, that's a sign of a rush job in a non-official factory.
Why the smell actually matters
This sounds weird. Seriously. But smell your Labubu.
Official Pop Mart products are made with regulated materials. They might have a faint "new toy" plastic smell, but it’s mild. Fakes, however, are often produced in factories with zero safety oversight. They frequently smell like heavy chemicals, industrial glue, or burnt rubber. If you open the bag and the smell gives you a headache, do not keep it. It’s not just a fake; it might actually be made with toxic dyes or plastics that aren't safe to handle.
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The "Confirmed" card trap
Most people buying Labubus today want specific colors, so they buy "confirmed" boxes. This means the box has been opened, the card has been checked, but the foil bag inside should still be sealed.
The card is a major giveaway.
- Thickness: Real cards are thick, like a high-quality playing card or a heavy business card. Fakes are often thin and floppy.
- Finish: Real cards have a matte finish with specific spot-UV (glossy) sections. Fakes are often entirely glossy or entirely matte.
- Edges: Real cards have perfectly rounded corners. Fakes often have jagged edges or uneven cuts.
If the seller provides the card but the foil bag is already open, your risk factor triples. Scammers will put a fake Labubu inside a real box with a real card. This is the "franken-set" scam. Always look for the Pop Mart logo printed repeatedly across the foil bag. The printing on the bag should be crisp, not faded.
Price is the ultimate red flag
Look, Labubus are expensive. The retail price for a single blind box is usually around $12 to $16 USD depending on the series and region. However, since they sell out instantly, the "market price" jumps to $40, $60, or even $100 for popular colors like "Sea Salt" or "Lychee Berry."
If you find a seller on a random website offering a "Full Set of 6" for $30, it is 100% fake. Every single time.
There is no "secret wholesaler" or "factory leftover" stock. Pop Mart tightly controls their inventory. If the price is too good to be true, you aren't getting a deal—you're getting a knockoff. Honestly, it’s better to pay the premium to a reputable reseller with thousands of positive reviews than to gamble on a "too-cheap" listing.
What to do if you realize your Labubu is fake
It happens to the best of us. If you’ve gone through these steps and realized your monster is a fraud, don't just sit there.
- Document everything. Take high-resolution photos of the blurry box, the messy stitching, and the failed QR code scan.
- Contact the platform. If you bought via eBay or a credit card, you have buyer protection. Raise a dispute immediately. State clearly that the item is "counterfeit," as most platforms have strict policies against selling fakes.
- Don't "re-sell" it. Some people try to recoup their loss by selling the fake to someone else. Don't be that person. It keeps the scam cycle going.
- Compare with a friend. If you have a friend with a known authentic Labubu, put them side-by-side. The differences in fur texture and face paint become glaringly obvious when compared directly.
Knowing how to know if a Labubu is real basically comes down to being a detective. Check the QR code first, then the box quality, then the "beans" in the feet, and finally the scent. If any one of these things feels off, trust your gut. These toys are meant to be a joy to collect, and nothing ruins that joy faster than realizing you’ve been played by a scammer.
Stick to verified sellers or highly-rated community members. The extra ten dollars you spend for a verified authentic piece is worth the peace of mind of knowing you have the real deal sitting on your shelf.
Your Checklist for Next Time
- Scan the QR code and ensure it’s the "first query."
- Check for the embossed "POP MART" logo on the box.
- Feel for the weighted pellets (beans) in the feet and bottom.
- Verify that the "blush" on the cheeks is a soft gradient, not a hard circle.
- Ensure the card is thick and the printing is sharp.