The surge in counterfeit Labubu dolls poses a “serious safety risk to children, a London authority has warned.
Sutton Council has said more than 200 of the “dangerous” toys have been seized in just two months, which it claims is fuelled by the brand's online popularity.
Trading Standards said poor quality Labubu dolls, with vinyl faces and plush bodies, have loose parts and poor-quality stitching that are a possible choking hazard to young children.
Genuine Labubu dolls, which are produced by Chinese toy maker Pop Mart, have a holograph sticker and a scannable QR code.
The retailer's website claims Labubu dolls, inspired by Korean artist Kasing Lung’s storybooks The Monsters, are "kind-hearted and always wants to help, but often accidentally achieves the opposite".
According to Forbes, the popularity of Labubu dolls helped Pop Mart more than double its total revenue to £1.33 billion ($1.81 billion) last year.
Due to their desirability, a number of Labubu dolls are being sold on unverified online sources or unlicensed street sellers.
Labubu dolls range in price between £10 and around £40, while rare versions have sold for more than £170,000.
In July and August, Trading Standards officers from Sutton and Kingston upon Thames sized at least 230 suspected counterfeit dolls.
Sutton Council said: "If you believe you have bought a dangerous toy, stop children from playing with it immediately and report it to Trading Standards.
"Sutton businesses should: Do due diligence — only purchase stock from legitimate suppliers and keep full invoices and traceability records.
“Never buy from unknown sellers — always remember that selling counterfeit or unsafe toys is a criminal offence."
Sutton is not the first to warn of a concerning rise in unsafe Labubu dolls on the market.
Earlier this week, Moray Council in Scotland announced it seized more than 100 of the fake Labubu dolls over the summer.
