Labubu Scams: Monsters vs. Imposters — And How To Stay Away From The Latter

Labubu is a quirky little creature from Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung’s The Monsters series. The figures took off when POP MART began selling them in blind boxes sealed packs, where you only find out which character you got after opening it. The surprise, the odd-cute design, and limited drops turned Labubu into a collector favorite.

Labubu comes in different sizes as vinyl figures and plushies, but the blind-box minis are the stars. They’ve crossed into fashion too, with young adults clipping them to bags or belt loops, and they’ve been spotted with pop stars like Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

The craze is global. Resale markets are busy, thefts have even made the news, and social media keeps demand high. When this article was written, TikTok had more than 1 million #labubu video posts. In 2024 Pop Mart’s “The Monsters” line (which includes Labubu) brought in about $418 Million.

Where does the name “Labubu” come from?

Before they were collectibles, Labubus were book characters. Hong Kong–born artist Kasing Lung moved to the Netherlands as a child and fell in love with Nordic fairy tales, especially stories about elves. In 2015, he launched The Monsters, where Labubus are a playful tribe of female elves. On the page, they’re kind-hearted helpers who sometimes cause a little chaos. There are roughly a hundred of them, each with quirks and backstories, one thread even pairs a teasing, big-hearted Labubu with a shy skeleton named Tycoco.

In 2019, Lung partnered with POP MART to bring his creations into collectible form. As the line expanded—eventually including tiny plush key-rings—the characters jumped from storybooks to street style, turning Labubu from a cult favorite into a daily sight on jackets and backpacks.

Labubu scams: what you should know

In the U.S., a Labubu surprise box sells for about $27.99, but the hunt for rare characters pushes resale prices way up (a “secret” Chestnut Cocoa can list well over $149). That demand has spawned two things at once: a lively market for doll clothes and accessories, and a flood of counterfeits (sometimes nicknamed “Lafufu”).

When a toy is hot, fake shops and knockoffs follow. The Better Business Bureau has logged reports from buyers who thought they were getting the real thing but received poor-quality counterfeits or nothing at all.

The tricks to watch for:

Sponsored ads and “flash sales.” You see a great price in a social ad or at the top of a search result and click without checking the seller. Deep discounts on a hard-to-find toy are a red flag for counterfeits or fake shops.
New “official” shops on Instagram or TikTok. You’ll see glossy “official” shops with endless stock and huge discounts. They often ask you to pay in DMs or send you off-platform to a checkout page that disappears after you pay. No independent reviews, vague return policies, and no business address.

Facebook Marketplace & local buy/sell groups. Common tricks include stolen photos, “deposit to hold” requests, shipping-only deals for local items, and buyers/sellers pushing you to move the conversation to WhatsApp and pay by bank transfer or gift card. Some will ask for your phone number and send a “verification code” (that’s a Google Voice takeover trick).

Resale platforms (eBay, Depop, Vinted). Watch for “preorders,” “mystery lots,” and sellers who try to move you off the platform to avoid buyer protections.

Buy smarter: a quick checklist

Falling for a Labubu scam usually ends the same way: your money’s gone, the toy never shows up, and the damage can continue. Scammers may harvest your personal details, try to hijack your Marketplace or messaging accounts (by tricking you into sharing a verification code), or test your card for more fraud later. Take a minute to check the seller, and you’ll avoid most of these traps.

Use this when you’re shopping for Labubu (or any trendy toy) to avoid most of these traps.

Start with sellers you already trust. If it’s an unfamiliar store or profile, look it up on BBB.org and read recent reviews first. Do a quick search for “[store name] reviews” and “[store name] scam.” Check how long the account has been selling and whether they have consistent, real feedback.
Scan the website. Look for a real street address, working customer support, and a clear returns page. Watch for typos, pasted product descriptions, or a URL that’s a misspelling of a known brand.
Compare photos and packaging. Counterfeits often look “almost right.” Ask the seller for timestamped photos and a short video of the exact item and box (front/back, close-ups, seals, authenticity labels). Off colors, fuzzy printing, and odd logos are red flags.
Pay with protection. Use a credit card or a method with buyer protection (e.g., PayPal Goods & Services). Skip bank transfers, gift cards, crypto, and payment apps that don’t offer protection—those are hard to recover if things go wrong.
Keep proof. Save screenshots of the listing, the order confirmation, and all messages. If something feels off, you’ll have what you need to dispute the charge or report the seller.

Free Bitdefender tools to help you steer clear

Bitdefender Scamio, free scam detector

Got a “Labubu sale” message, a sketchy ad, or a too-new shop? Paste the text or link into Bitdefender Scamio. It analyzes messages, emails, social posts, links, even QR codes, and explains, in plain English, what looks risky and why.

Bitdefender Link Checker — “Is this site safe?”

Before you enter your card details, drop the seller’s URL into Bitdefender Link Checker. It checks for phishing, malware, and other shady behavior so you can avoid counterfeit or fraudulent sites.

Two minutes of checking can save you weeks of headaches.