More than 100 fake Labubu dolls seized from shops in Elgin

More than 100 fake Labubu dolls have been seized from shops by trading standards in Moray.

The toys are poor-quality copies of the Labubu dolls made by Pop Mart, which have become increasingly popular after celebrity endorsements and viral social media posts.

Genuine Labubu dolls are expensive and in short supply, which has led to a flood of cheap counterfeits being sold across the UK.

The fake Labubus pose serious safety risks to children as they haven’t undergone proper safety testing and don’t meet UK toy safety standards.

Officers in Elgin town centre found that many of the dolls had small parts that could easily come off, especially the plastic hands and feet, which could cause choking.

Trading Standards say some also had poor stitching and exposed stuffing, increasing the risk of suffocation.

Some fake dolls seized across Scotland have also been found to contain dangerous chemicals, posing a significant health risk.

Cllr David Gordon said: “There are significant safety concerns associated with these fake toys.

“Toy Safety Regulations are there to protect children from the dangers associated with toys which haven’t been properly tested to ensure they are safe from risks like harmful chemicals and choking hazards.

“Shops that choose to ignore these risks and sell these types of unsafe toys can expect to have them seized.”

How to spot a fake Labubu doll

Advice Direct Scotland says the telltale signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours, an incorrect teeth count (authentic Labubus have exactly nine), and missing UV authenticity stamps introduced in 2024.

Labubus are mischievous, wide-eyed dolls created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung

With their wild tufts of hair, sharp-toothed grins, and childlike charm, they straddle the line between cute and creepy

They are sold in a blind box, so buyers don’t know which version they’ll get – fuelling a booming resale market

First popular across China and Southeast Asia, they’ve sparked viral trends on TikTok and Instagram

For many, they’ve become more than a doll — Labubu is a fashion and lifestyle accessory.

The counterfeit surge has been traced back to factories in China, where production lines churn out thousands of knockoffs priced as low as £4 each.

Chinese authorities have recently shut down several plants and seized more than 20,000 fake Labubu toys in a single day.

Despite the crackdown, many of these fakes had already slipped through customs and into the hands of unsuspecting UK buyers.