Labubu (Pop Mart)
Labubu's viral run triggered a massive counterfeit wave — knockoffs nicknamed "Lafufu," produced in unauthorized workshops, with U.S. Customs intercepting shipments. Counterfeiters now even buy genuine boxes, swap in a fake figure, and reseal the flap. Because fakes clone packaging and even QR stickers, no single marker is proof — combine the official QR scan, the teeth and face check, the foot stamp, and the inner-bag tell.
Official QR Code & Verification
Pop Mart added a QR-code authentication system that links to its official site; 2024+ releases tightened it further with engraved foot tags and confirmation numbers.
- Scan the QR on the box or tag with your phone's normal camera — it must load an official Pop Mart authentication page, not a third-party site or app the seller suggests.
- A genuine, unscanned code should return a first-time-verification result; a code that shows already-used is a strong sign of a fake or a resealed swap.
- Genuine packaging carries correct Pop Mart branding and artist credit with no spelling errors — misspelled tags are a classic "Lafufu" giveaway.
QR destination
✓ AUTHENTIC
Loads an official Pop Mart authentication page.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Dead link, odd redirect, or a non-Pop Mart domain.
Scan status
✓ AUTHENTIC
First-time verification.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Already used / invalid.
Tag text
✓ AUTHENTIC
Correct Pop Mart branding and artist credit, no typos.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Spelling errors on the hang tag.
- A QR code that leads anywhere but an official Pop Mart domain.
- A seller insisting you "verify" through their own app or website.
- Misspellings anywhere on the box or tag.
The Figure: Teeth, Face & Paint
Pop Mart's own guidance (reported by ABC News / GMA) points to a precise tooth count and clean paintwork.
- Count the teeth: an authentic Labubu has exactly nine pointed teeth, each distinct with small, even gaps. A different count is a fake.
- The face tone is a soft pale/peach; an over-saturated orange, yellow, or pink face signals a fake.
- Paint is clean and precise, with no chipping or bleed on the eyes, teeth, or nose.
- On plush-element figures, stitching is tight and even — Lafufu stitching is visibly lower quality.
Teeth
✓ AUTHENTIC
Exactly 9, evenly spaced and distinct.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Wrong count, or fused/uneven teeth.
Face color
✓ AUTHENTIC
Soft pale/peach skin tone.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Orange, yellow, or pink — off-tone.
Paint application
✓ AUTHENTIC
Crisp and clean, no bleed.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Sloppy, chipped, or smudged on the features.
Foot Stamp & UV Markings
Newer genuine figures carry a foot stamp/logo and, on many recent releases, a hidden UV-reactive mark.
- Check the underside of the foot for a clean Pop Mart logo/stamp — and, on 2024+ figures, an engraved artist name.
- On many releases from late 2023 onward, a UV blacklight reveals a hidden Labubu silhouette on the foot; fakes typically lack it or place it sloppily.
- The stamp should be crisp and correctly spelled, not smeared or off-center.
Foot stamp
✓ AUTHENTIC
Clean, correctly spelled Pop Mart logo on the foot.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Blurry, misspelled, or absent.
UV mark
✓ AUTHENTIC
Hidden silhouette glows under UV (newer releases).
✗ COUNTERFEIT
No UV reaction, or a wrong/sloppy mark.
Note
Marker details vary by release date and series, so a missing UV mark on an older figure is not automatically a fake. Weigh it alongside the QR, teeth, and packaging checks rather than on its own.
Packaging, Inner Bag & Where to Buy
Packaging print quality and the printed inner plastic bag are among the hardest things to fake.
- Genuine boxes have a matte finish and muted, pastel print; fakes often look glossier or color-shifted, with fuzzy text.
- The sealed inner plastic bag is printed with a repeating Pop Mart / series pattern — counterfeit inner bags are usually plain, unprinted silver foil. This is a powerful tell.
- Beware a box that looks genuine but feels resealed (a re-glued flap) — a known figure-swap tactic.
Inner bag
✓ AUTHENTIC
Printed repeating Pop Mart / series pattern.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Plain, unprinted silver/foil bag.
Box finish
✓ AUTHENTIC
Matte, muted pastel, crisp registered print.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Glossy or off-color, with fuzzy text.
Seal
✓ AUTHENTIC
Factory-sealed, untouched flap.
✗ COUNTERFEIT
Re-glued / resealed flap (figure swapped).
Where to buy safely
Buy only through Pop Mart's own channels — Pop Mart stores, the Pop Mart app, official Robo Shops/vending machines, the official Pop Mart TikTok Shop and Amazon storefront, and vetted event booths. Treat street vendors and random marketplace listings as high-risk; prefer sellers who will show a live unboxing and a fresh first-time QR scan on camera.
Get Professional Authentication
Visual checks catch obvious fakes, but professional authentication is the only way to be certain — especially for high-value purchases.
Disclaimer
This guide is for educational purposes only. The Fraud Codex is not affiliated with Labubu (Pop Mart). All information is compiled from publicly available sources and authentication experts and should not replace professional authentication services. A valid serial number, date code, or other marker does NOT guarantee authenticity — counterfeiters replicate these features. Labubu, THE MONSTERS, and POP MART are trademarks of POP MART and the artist Kasing Lung.