How to Spot a Fake Labubu: 8 Checks Collectors Use (2026)

How to spot a fake Labubu: count the teeth (a genuine Labubu has exactly nine), scan the QR code on the box or tag and make sure it opens Pop Mart's own verification page, check the foot for the embossed POP MART stamp, and look at the face for a pale, matte, peachy skin tone with clean paint. Fakes, nicknamed "Lafufus", usually fail at least one of these. The safest route is to buy sealed, from a marketplace that authenticates before dispatch.

Labubu went from Kasing Lung's sketchbook to the side of every designer handbag in a couple of years, and counterfeits followed at the same speed. Blind boxes make it worse: you can't see the figure before you buy, which is exactly the uncertainty a counterfeiter needs. If you're new to the character, start with what Labubu is and why The Monsters matter. If you already have one in your hands and a doubt in your head, this is the checklist.

How to spot a fake Labubu: the 8 checks

Check	Genuine Labubu	Likely fake
1. Teeth	Exactly nine, sharp, evenly spaced, cleanly painted	Seven, eight, ten, or smudged and uneven
2. QR code	On the box and tag; opens Pop Mart's official verification page	Missing, won't scan, or opens a look-alike site
3. Foot stamp	Crisp POP MART logo on the foot; newer releases add the artist's name and copyright text	Missing, blurry or misspelled
4. UV mark	Newer releases show a hidden silhouette under the right foot in UV light	Nothing, or a blurry blob
5. Face and paint	Pale, matte, peachy skin; soft blush; glossy, well-set eyes	Bright orange or hot pink; flat or bulging eyes; paint bleed
6. Fur and stitching	Soft, dense plush with near-invisible seams	Coarse fur, visible rough stitching, fraying
7. Box	Matte finish, muted colours, holographic POP MART sticker, correct spelling	Glossy, over-bright, flat sticker, typos in "POP MART" or "The Monsters"
8. Spelling	Every word on the box, tag and card spelled correctly	Misspellings anywhere

1. Count the teeth

A genuine Labubu grins with nine distinct, pointed teeth separated by small gaps. Counterfeits routinely get the count wrong, usually seven or eight, or mould the teeth as one smudged row.

2. Scan the QR code

Pop Mart prints a QR code on the box and, on newer releases, on the figure's tag. Scanning it should open Pop Mart's official verification page with no detours. A code that doesn't scan or lands on a different site is a red flag. One caveat: a clean scan verifies the packaging, not the figure inside it, so treat the QR code as one check, not the whole exam.

3. Look at the feet

Turn the figure over. A genuine Labubu carries a cleanly stamped POP MART logo on the foot, and newer releases add the artist's name and copyright text. On fakes the stamp is often missing, shallow, blurry or spelled wrong.

4. Use a UV light

Newer Labubu releases include a hidden marking under the right foot that only shows in UV light, revealing a small silhouette of the figure. If you own a UV torch, this is the hardest tell for a counterfeiter to copy. Older releases predate it, so a missing mark on an early figure proves nothing on its own.

5. Study the face

The authentic skin tone is pale and peachy with a matte texture, a soft airbrushed blush and glossy eyes set neatly into the face. Counterfeit faces drift towards saturated orange, pink or yellow, with flat or bulging eyes and paint that bleeds across the lines. Sloppy paint on the eyes, teeth or nose is one of the clearest signs.

6, 7 and 8. Fur, box and spelling

Genuine plush is soft and dense, with stitching you have to look for. Genuine boxes are matte with muted colours and a holographic POP MART sticker that shifts as you tilt it. And read everything: box, tag, character card. One misspelling of "POP MART" or "The Monsters" settles the question.

What the checks can't tell you

Every tell above is physical, so it only works once the figure is in your hands and, for a blind box, once it's opened. That is the trap of buying sealed from an unknown seller: you find out it's a Lafufu after the seal is broken and the argument about returns begins. The better fix is to decide who you buy from before you decide what you buy.

Buying sealed Labubu on PUSHAS

Labubu has its own home on PUSHAS: The Monsters Labubu collection. Everything in it is listed brand new in its original packaging: single blind boxes, listed as "Sealed Case (Single Blind Box)", full sealed cases of 6, 10 or 12 blind boxes depending on the series, and boxed vinyl plush dolls and pendants. Every item is authenticated by hand by a trained PUSHAS authenticator at a facility in Sydney, Hong Kong or Los Angeles before it's dispatched, and every seller on PUSHAS applied and was reviewed before they could list.

If you open a box and have any doubt, you're covered by the Authenticity & Legitimacy Guarantee: report it to orders@pushas.com within 14 days of delivery, no proof needed, we send a prepaid label, and a confirmed authenticity claim is refunded in full including shipping. Non-slab collectibles on PUSHAS are listed with a stated condition, "Brand New" or "Damaged Box", so you know what the packaging looks like before you buy. Blind boxes are a lottery by design; who sealed the box shouldn't be.

Frequently asked questions

How many teeth does a real Labubu have?

Nine. A genuine Labubu has exactly nine sharp, evenly spaced teeth. Counterfeits often have seven or eight, or teeth moulded as a single smudged row.

Does a real Labubu have a QR code?

Yes. Pop Mart prints a QR code on the box and, on newer releases, on the figure's tag. It should open Pop Mart's official verification page. A code that fails to scan or opens another site is a warning sign, though the code verifies the packaging rather than the figure inside it.

What is a Lafufu?

Lafufu is the collector nickname for a counterfeit Labubu. The name spread as fakes flooded social media listings during the 2025 Labubu boom.

Can you tell a fake Labubu without opening the blind box?

Only partly. You can check the box finish, holographic sticker, spelling and QR code, but the teeth, foot stamp, UV mark and face can only be inspected once the box is open. Buying sealed from a marketplace that authenticates before dispatch removes that gamble.

Are Labubu blind boxes on PUSHAS authentic?

Every Labubu item on PUSHAS is authenticated by hand before dispatch and covered by the Authenticity & Legitimacy Guarantee. If an item is confirmed not authentic within 14 days of delivery, you receive a full refund including shipping.