Madison Burgess
A warning has been issued over ‘dangerous’ fake Labubu dolls as the craze surrounding the popular collectibles continues to grow.
The creepy-looking plush toys have soared in popularity across the world in recent months, with PopMart even having to pull them off of shelves in the UK following reports of customers fighting over them.
What is so appealing about them, you might be asking? Well, the ‘blind box’ element definitely plays into it, meaning you won’t get which colour you have until you’ve already parted with your cash and taken it out of the packaging.
But, things have taken a dark turn lately as a bunch of wild conspiracy theories have popped up, linking the furry fictional creatures to a demon from ancient Mesopotamian mythology known as ‘Pazuzu’.
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Yes, you read that right - and it gets worse - some people are even burning their Labubu dolls after being convinced they carry a ‘demonic energy.’
Of course, Hong Kong-born creator Kasing Lung has never insinuated anything of the sort and instead got his inspiration for the monsters through Nordic mythology.
As is the case with anything that’s extremely popular, fake versions of Labubus have started popping up left, right and centre, and people are calling them ‘Lafufus.’
The counterfeit versions are being flogged everywhere from the streets to corner shops and online websites.
While they look similar to the actual dolls, there are small differences like a slightly bigger head or more teeth than usual that make them pretty easy to spot.
However, authorities are now beginning to issue warnings over the ‘Lafufus’ and urging parents to ‘be vigilant.’
This is because the cheaply-made knock offs haven’t been through trading standards and the checks that toys usually go through, so they can’t be guaranteed as safe for little ones due to things like small parts.
Rochdale Borough Council put out a statement earlier this week, warning people of the risks.
Alongside a picture of a Lafufu, they wrote: “Toy Safety Alert. Parents, please be vigilant when purchasing the popular Labubu dolls, which have recently gone viral.
“Our trading standards team has recently found counterfeit versions being sold across the borough without proper safety labels - a clear sign they haven’t been through the required safety checks.
“While these fake toys might be cheaper, they can pose serious risks to children, including choking hazards and exposure to toxic chemicals.”
They signed off by instructing parents not to let children play with counterfeit Labubus and instead report it to them via email.
And the warnings aren’t just in Rochdale, they are becoming more widespread across the UK and even in other parts of the world.
Toys seized from four premises in Aberdeen were found to have loose parts, posing a choking hazard to young children, reports STV News.
Speaking out on the matter, trading standards manager Graeme Paton said: "Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant.
"These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous."
He continued: "Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards.
"These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they've purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice Scotland."
Meanwhile, the BBC reported this week that hundreds of the dolls have been seized by trading standards officers in North Ayrshire.
Two homes situated in Irvine town centre had over 370 Lafufus, which due to the poor standards of safety, could have possessed a choking hazard for children.