Scots kids 'heartbroken' by flood of fake Labubu dolls as counterfeit craze spirals out of control
Scots kids have been left "heartbroken" by a flood of fake Labubu toys as the counterfeit craze spirals out of control, a top consumer charity has revealed.
Advice Direct Scotland said counterfeit Labubu dolls – the latest toy craze – were duping collectors, draining wallets and disappointing kids.
The quirky, wide-eyed Labubu - a mischievous forest creature from the cult-favourite Pop Mart 'Monsters' series - have been spotted with celebrities like Rihanna, Dua Lipa and Cher.
But the toys have now become the latest victim of global counterfeiting.
Originally designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, Labubu has exploded in popularity, with some rare editions fetching up to £135,000 at auction.
And fakes are now pouring into Scotland.
Hazel Knowles, consumer project lead at Advice Direct Scotland, said: 'We are concerned by the surge in fake Labubu toys flooding the Scottish market.
'These counterfeits are not only deceiving collectors and draining hard-earned money from families, but they're also leaving children heartbroken.
'We urge consumers to be vigilant, buy only from trusted retailers and report suspected fakes.
'No child should be disappointed by a counterfeit toy made with inferior materials.
'We've had reports that the counterfeit goods are of very poor quality and are not made to last at all.'
Funny memes and TikTok videos have made the Labubu toys go viral turning the dolls into ultra-desirable collectibles.
One dad, who turned to Advice Direct Scotland for support, said: 'After closer inspection, I noticed several discrepancies that indicated these products were not genuine.
'The packaging and branding differ from authentic Labubu collectables. I have also verified that the QR code on them does not go to the correct website of the manufacturer.'
The telltale signs of a fake include overly vibrant colours, incorrect teeth count, with authentic Labubus having exactly nine.
Counterfeits also have missing UV authenticity stamps, introduced in 2024.
The surge in fake goods 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.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
East Ayrshire Trading Standards also issued a warning on Tuesday, saying it was "aware of concerns of safety and counterfeiting" of the popular dolls, urging potential buyers to "please take care".
Pop Mart, the Beijing-based toy giant behind Labubu, has yet to comment publicly on the UK counterfeit wave.
But insiders say the company is reportedly working with international customs and IP lawyers to stem the tide.
Hazel Knowles added: 'To be on the safe side, only purchase Labubu toys from verified retailers. If the deal looks too good to be true - it probably is.
'With Labubu mania showing no signs of slowing, collectors are being urged to stay vigilant.
'It's like Pokémon in the '90s but with shoddy counterfeits flooding the market. These fakes are all over the place now.'
With official supplies out of stock at many US Pop Mart branches, enthusiasts there have also turned to resale sites.
On one resale website, Labubus originally priced at around £37 are being sold for anywhere between £105 and £229.
If you have a complaint or concern about goods or services, you can contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
The helpline is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. You can chat to an advisor online or contact them via social media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Kathy Griffin looks unrecognizable as she steps out in LA after anti-Trump TikTok drama
Kathy Griffin looked nearly unrecognizable as she stepped out in Los Angeles this week amid backlash over her recent anti-Trump TikTok post. The comedian, 64, was spotted enjoying a walk with a male friend near her $8.8million Malibu home on Tuesday, July 1. Griffin was noticeably makeup-free and her flaming red hair looked wild as it blew around in the breeze. The Suddenly Susan star was also missing her signature bangs. For the stroll around her neighborhood stroll, Griffin rocked a T-shirt with her face from her 2017 Laugh Your Head Off World Tour. She completed the low-key outfit with black yoga pants, blue New Balance sneakers and a cross-body purse with two water bottles peeking out of it. The comedian, 64, was spotted enjoying a walk with a male friend near her $8.8million Malibu home on Tuesday, July 1 Griffin, who looked to be in high spirits, was joined on her walk by a muscular, gray-haired gentleman wearing all-black. Just days before Tuesday's sighting in LA, Griffin sparked fury by sharing a video showing artwork of four severed heads of billionaires - including Donald Trump. She shared a clip to TikTok, stitching a video showcasing a piece of art that consisted of intricate cloth heads of four billionaires, with 'blood' dripping from their neck. The four decapitated heads depicted are Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and the current president, with the video panning across them hanging on the wall. The clip ends with Griffin tilting her head and nodding with a very slight smile, as the text above her reads: 'That's all.' 'For the first time ever… no comment,' she captioned the clip. The pointed video comes after the comedian caused mass outrage in 2017 when she posted a clip showing her holding a fake decapitated head made to look like Trump. The act caused the media personality to lose her hosting gig with CNN, which she had had been a part of since 2007. Viewers quickly flooded to the comment section of this latest clip - many disturbed by the gory artwork. 'Thought inciting violence was bad,' one user questioned. 'Did you not learn from the first time?' commented another. Someone else simply wrote: 'What is wrong with you?' while another snarked: 'Ah look who's so pathetically desperate to stay relevant.' Others supported Griffin, praising her in the comments section of the video. 'Queeeeeeeennnnn. 100000 steps aHEAD of everyone at all times,' declared a user. 'You were the pioneer, Kathy,' gushed another. In May, Griffin shared a video to her YouTube channel referencing the infamous ficitional beheading picture, complaining that late night host Stephen Colbert made her cry by ambushing her about the incident during a 2018 interview. The comedian, who said she had attempted to ban him from discussing the topic, called Colbert a 'd*ck' and branded the interview as a 'bulls**t ambush.' Griffin argued the CBS host's line of questioning was 'laced with misogyny,' and accused Colbert of punching down on a 'D-list celebrity.' The claims came seven years after interview had taken place, and nearly eight after the controversy that caused Griffin to lose her plum hosting gig at CNN. The interview with Colbert months later saw her lightly pressed about the May 2017 photo-up. Griffin said she'd just been questioned by the Secret Service over the photo and had begged with Colbert to avoid the topic. First, showrunners obliged, she said - before recalling how they shifted course at the 11th hour. The comic compared the ensuing experience to a grilling one might expect on '60 Minutes' instead of a satirical talk show. She claimed Colbert - a comic as well - 'kept going and kept going' with his questions. 'And then the tears came,' Griffin said. 'I just remember thinking, "He would not talk down to the guys like this. He just wouldn't."' Griffin claimed she did not release her tears until the interview's conclusion. 'I was still smiling and waving, and I could feel them coming down my cheeks,' she proclaimed, before claiming an executive producer went up to her to ask about her tears. At the same time, she said the producer tried to explain away Colbert's line of questioning. '"He just couldn't get over the picture. He just can't get over it,"' she recalled of what the staffer alleged said. 'And I go, "What's for him to get over? I don't understand. It wasn't a picture of his decapitated head."' At the time, Griffin doubled down that it was her right to take a photo of her holding what looked like the president's decapitated head under the First Amendment.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Pregnant Rihanna covers up her baby bump in a baggy black jumper as she steps out in casual ensemble in Paris
Pregnant Rihanna covered up her baby bump in a baggy black jumper as she stepped out in Paris on Wednesday night. The singer, 37, touched down in the French capital last Friday to support her beau A$AP Rocky, 36, at the Dior show during Paris Fashion Week. And this week she made a casually chic entrance to the Dior boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris, rocking oversized shades, a black hoodie, and pinstripe pyjama pants. With her signature yellow tote in hand, the fashion mogul effortlessly turned a casual look into a style win. The outing comes after A$AP appeared to accidentally reveal the gender of their third child while attending the world premiere of her film Smurfs held at Mont des Arts in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday. When ET 's Kevin Frazier asked the 36-year-old rapper 'Is that the girl you've been waiting for' he immediately replied: 'It is, man, it is.' Feeling cornered, A$AP (born Rakim Athelaston Mayers) then held up a plush Smurfette doll and redirected: 'Right here, you know what I'm saying? Right here.' Over on ET's official Instagram account, fans went wild with user @aysenuurkc exclaiming: 'It's [a] girl!' 'He definitely gave it away,' Instagram user @khadija_sufi laughed. 'How cutely he promoted the movie and showed his love for her!' Instagram user @fashionistaera21 gushed. 'That's a real man supporting his girl.' Instagram user @hot_cheetos_0001 commented: 'Put a ring on it. Do it the right way.' 'He needs to marry her,' Instagram user @chibiapril0412 agreed. When Frazier asked the expecting 36-year-old the same exact question, she smiled coyly and replied: 'Let's see if it's a could be a Papa Smurf. Who knows?' Riri (born Robyn Fenty) did confirm that the couple would give their next child a name that begins with R: 'That's the one thing me and Rocky don't fight over.' When asked how many more children they planned on having, the two-time Grammy nominee joked: 'We [are] going to be like the Wayans' family, you know? Yeah, I mean, love is beautiful and it's just [about] spreading it.' The nine-time Grammy winner and A$AP Rocky already welcomed two sons - RZA Athelston Mayers, 3; and Riot Rose Mayers, 22 months - during their five-year relationship and she hasn't been shy in the past over her dream of having a daughter. But the power couple - who share matching 1988 tattoos to mark their birth year - originally met in 2011 when she first enlisted him to rap on her song Cockiness (Love It). A$AP Rocky was facing up to eight years in prison until February 18 when a jury found him not guilty of two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm stemming from a 2021 shooting of his longtime friend A$AP Relli (born Terell Ephron). The AWGE founder's late Bajan father reportedly went to prison when he was only 12, and he spent his teen years moving around homeless shelters with his mother and sister.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
How can I use leftover pickle brine in day-to-day cooking?
I'm an avid consumer of pickles, especially gherkins. When I've finished a jar, how can I use the brine in my cooking?Geoff, SheffieldLast year, Dua Lipa poured Diet Coke into an ice-filled glass, topped it up with the brine from both a tub of pickles (plus a few rogue pickles) and a tub of jalapeños, swirled it around, then drank it. While someone under the viral TikTok video asked, 'Dua, is everything OK?', the pop star is right about one thing: it's time we start thinking of pickle brine as an ingredient, rather than a byproduct. 'The brine retains all of that delicious pickle flavour,' says Moon Lee, head chef of no-waste restaurant Silo in London, 'and a mixture of sweet and savoury undertones'. Also, because it's fermented, 'it has an almost tangy, kombucha-like taste, too. I'm from Korea, and we always make use of kimchi juice, whether in a dressing, as a seasoning for noodles or in pancake batter. Why can't pickle brine have the same potential?' Good point well made, but what does that mean in practice? 'We've previously combined cucumber with pickle brine and cold-pressed rapeseed oil, then topped it with chopped shallots that have been marinated in salt and sugar,' Moon says; she reckons the same approach would work a treat with wild fennel, especially. Meanwhile, pickle brine also 'makes a great seasoning', says Stuart Ralston, executive chef and owner of Aizle, Lyla, Noto and Tipo, all in Edinburgh, and will put some pucker into your potatoes: 'A few spoonfuls of pickle brine will make a potato salad, for example, more interesting.' Alternatively, combine 150ml each of vegetable oil and olive oil with 110ml pickle brine, 60g dijon mustard and 5g chopped fresh oregano, then 'adjust the seasoning, if need be, but that won't be far off'. Use that to dress a roast chicken, Ralston says, to serve with boiled potatoes and crisp salad leaves. Otherwise, Ralston might use the stuff to brine a chicken – 'give it a few hours to make the bird more tender and retain moisture' – while the Guardian's own zero-waste correspondent, Tom Hunt, uses it to brine pork chops for similar reasons: 'Pickle juice is brimming with flavour and salt, which is exactly what's needed to make the most flavourful pork chop out there.' Put your chop or chops in a tub in which they'll fit snugly, then pour over the pickle juice: 'Ideally enough to submerge the chop, but even a small amount will work wonders.' Leave to marinate for three hours, and ideally overnight, then, when you're ready to cook, 'lift the chops from the brine, pat dry with a clean towel and cook using your preferred method'. Of course, spent pickle brine can also simply be used to pickle something else, Moon says: 'It's a common fermentation technique known as 'backslopping'. Keep a small amount of used brine and add it to a new batch to accelerate the pickling process.' That said, if you want to channel your inner Dua Lipa and down some pickle brine, instead, Ralston reckons it's probably best to hold the cola: 'When I lived in America, I'd often have a bloody mary at brunch, and a few splashes of gherkin brine, say, really give it a kick.' That's not a bad way to get yourself out of a pickle. Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@
