Nearly 400 fake and potentially dangerous Labubu dolls have been seized from two shops in Scotland.
Trading Standards officers have been carrying out checks of premises in Irvine, North Ayrshire, for counterfeit items.
A search of two premises in the town centre uncovered more than 370 fake dolls.
Safety concerns have been raised over the toys posing a potential choking hazard. The counterfeit products have also not passed the UK Toys Safety regulations.
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Can you spot the difference betweena real or fake Labubu?
The toy’s popularity began last year after K-Pop star Lisa from girl group Blackpink shared a photo of herself with one, with other celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa following suit.
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.
What are Labubu dolls?
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Labubus are mischievous, wide-eyed dolls created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung
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With their wild tufts of hair, sharp-toothed grins, and childlike charm, they straddle the line between cute and creepy
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They are sold in a blind box so buyers don’t know which version they’ll get – fuelling a booming resale market
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First popular across China and Southeast Asia, they’ve have sparked viral trends on TikTok and Instagram
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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.
Councillor Alan Hill commented: “These counterfeits need to be stopped and we are delighted with the work being carried out by the Trading Standards team.
“We would urge any retailer selling any of these items to think again as we will be stepping up our efforts over the coming days. It might look like a good deal, but these dolls are usually really poor quality and made with inferior materials and are not made to last at all.
“Not only that, they could also cause a serious accident to young people. We would urge people to only buy from trusted retailers and if you have concerns, please get in touch with our Trading Standards team at North Ayrshire Council.”
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