7 Crucial Steps To Spot A Fake Labubu And Protect Your Pop Mart Collection

Contents

The Labubu phenomenon has swept the world of art toys, but with massive popularity comes a flood of sophisticated counterfeits. As of late 2025, the market is saturated with convincing fakes—often dubbed "Lafufu"—making it essential for collectors to know the precise, up-to-date authentication features of a genuine Pop Mart Labubu figure. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the seven most critical checkpoints, from the packaging's texture to hidden security features, ensuring your beloved monster is the real deal.

To protect your investment and the integrity of your collection, you must go beyond superficial checks. Real Labubu figures, created by artist Kasing Lung, possess a level of quality and specific anti-counterfeiting measures that cheap imitations simply cannot replicate. Use this guide to meticulously examine your figure's box, inner packaging, and the vinyl itself to verify its authenticity before you unbox your next blind box treasure.

The Creator and The Monsters: Kasing Lung’s Biography

To truly appreciate the authentic Labubu, you must first understand its origins and the artist who brought this mischievous monster to life. This background adds crucial topical authority and context to your collection.

  • Full Name: Kasing Lung (龍家昇)
  • Born: December 31, 1972, in Hong Kong
  • Early Life: Moved to the Netherlands with his family as a child, where he developed a deep fascination with Nordic folklore and fairy tales, which heavily influences his art.
  • Career Start: Began his career as an illustrator. In 2011, he started collaborating with How2work in Hong Kong, releasing illustrated storybooks.
  • The Monsters Universe: Kasing Lung is the creator of "The Monsters," a whimsical and emotionally charged visual universe that includes characters like Labubu, Tycoco, Spook, Zimomo, and Pato.
  • Labubu's Identity: Labubu is the most famous character, a rabbit-like monster with a mischievous grin and serrated, fanged teeth, known for its wide, expressive eyes.
  • Partnership: His creation gained global mass appeal through his official collaboration with the giant art toy company, Pop Mart.

7 Essential Authentication Checks for a Real Labubu Figure

Counterfeiters are constantly improving, but they rarely get every detail right. Authentic Labubu figures from Pop Mart have multiple layers of security and consistent quality control. Focus on these seven critical areas to distinguish a genuine Labubu from a fake "Lafufu."

1. The Pop Mart Anti-Counterfeit QR Code Check

The most definitive and up-to-date method for verification is the digital security feature on the packaging.

  • Scan and Verify: Locate the anti-counterfeit QR code or serial number on the outer box. Use your phone’s camera or a dedicated scanner app.
  • Official Redirect: A genuine QR code will immediately redirect you to one of Pop Mart's official authentication sites, typically fwsy.popmart.com or m-gss.popmart.com.
  • Fake Indicators: If the code is blurry, poorly printed, or redirects you to a generic, non-Pop Mart website, or simply provides a static image, the figure is highly likely to be fake. The system will confirm official POP MART verification.

2. Packaging Quality: The Matte Box and Embossing Test

The quality of the outer blind box is a major tell. Pop Mart uses high-end, consistent materials.

  • Matte Finish is Key: Authentic Labubu packaging features a smooth, matte finish. Fake boxes often have a glossy, overly shiny, or uneven surface that feels cheap.
  • Sharp Embossed Details: Run your fingers over the main artwork or series name on the box. Genuine boxes have a clear, pronounced, and sharp embossed (raised) texture on the outlines of Labubu and other characters. Fakes will be flat or have weak, indistinct embossing.
  • Logo and Text Quality: Check for a clear "Pop Mart" trademark on the box. Look for dull, blurry print, misspellings (like "Labubu" being spelled incorrectly), or inconsistent fonts.

3. The Inner Polybag Rule and Texture

Once the box is opened, the bag containing the figure provides a definitive clue.

  • The Matte-Bag Rule: Genuine Labubu figures are sealed inside a matte inner polybag that is printed with the Labubu logo or character art.
  • Shiny Bag = Fake: If the inner polybag is shiny, glossy, or made of cheap, crinkly plastic, it is a near-certain indicator of a counterfeit. This is one of the quickest ways to spot a fake.

4. Figure Construction and Finish: The Premium Feel

The figure itself must meet a high standard of quality and consistency.

  • Smooth, Consistent Vinyl: Authentic Labubu figures have a premium, smooth, and consistent vinyl feel. There should be no rough edges, visible seams, or sticky residue from poor manufacturing.
  • Matte Body Finish: The body of a real Labubu has a smooth, matte finish. Counterfeits often have a cheap, glossy, or oily-looking texture.
  • Paint Application: Genuine figures feature perfectly crisp, clean paint lines with zero overspray or bleeding. Fakes are notorious for sloppy paint jobs, especially around the eyes, teeth, and extremities.

5. The Face and Eye Test: Glossy and Peachy

Labubu’s signature look—the wide, expressive eyes and mischievous grin—is a major focus for counterfeiters, but they often fail to capture the subtle details.

  • Glossy, Glass-Like Eyes: Authentic Labubu eyes are embedded into the vinyl with a glossy, glass-like finish. They reflect natural light, making them look lively and deep. Fake eyes are often dull, flat, or simply painted on with a cheap gloss.
  • Color Consistency: The face of an authentic Labubu should have a pale, peachy, or slightly muted color. If the figure has vibrant, overly bright shades of orange, pink, or yellow where it shouldn't, it’s a red flag.
  • Count the Teeth: The original Labubu design features nine distinct, serrated teeth. This is a subtle detail that can be missed by counterfeiters.

6. The Foot Stamp and Engraving Detail

A crucial, often-overlooked detail is the marking on the bottom of the figure’s foot.

  • Deep, Crisp Engraving: Turn the figure over and look for the stamp on the bottom of the foot. A genuine stamp is deeply engraved with crisp, clear lines and consistent ink coverage.
  • Shallow or Blurry Stamps: Counterfeits often have shallow, faint, or blurry stamps, or sometimes no stamp at all. The details on a real Labubu are a testament to quality control.

7. The Hidden UV Light Security Feature

For some series, Pop Mart has included a hidden security mark that is invisible to the naked eye, offering a high-tech authentication method.

  • The Test: Shine a UV (blue) light on the figure. This is often an anti-counterfeit mark.
  • Authentic Mark: On some authentic Labubu figures, a hidden security mark will glow under the UV light, confirming its originality. This feature is series-dependent, but if present, it is a very strong indicator of a real figure.

The Growing Threat of "Lafufu" and Counterfeit Sales

The demand for Labubu has led to a major counterfeit crisis, with fake figures often being sold under the derogatory nickname "Lafufu." These imitations are not only inferior in quality but also harm the intellectual property of the artist, Kasing Lung, and the manufacturer, Pop Mart.

The best way to protect yourself is to always purchase from official channels or reputable, authorized retailers. Avoid suspiciously low prices on unverified third-party marketplaces, as a deal that seems too good to be true almost certainly is when it comes to highly sought-after collectible art toys like Labubu.

By diligently applying these seven authentication steps—from scanning the QR code to checking the matte polybag and the figure’s glossy eyes—you can confidently navigate the counterfeit market and ensure that your collection is composed only of genuine, high-quality Labubu figures.

7 Crucial Steps to Spot a Fake Labubu and Protect Your Pop Mart Collection
how to know if labubu is real
how to know if labubu is real

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