Parents warned about dangers of fake Labubu dolls

As Christmas approaches, parents are being warned about the hidden dangers of fake toys.

Criminals are cashing in on the huge popularity of Labubu dolls which account for 90% of counterfeit toys seized in the UK, according to the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Birmingham City Council's Trading Standards team said they had seized "several hundred thousand pounds worth" of fake toys in the past few months.

They carried out tests on the goods which showed a "horrendous amount of chemicals" which could cause cancer, affect development and in the most severe cases affect reproductive systems later on in life.

Trading Standards head Dave Benbow said parents "didn't see the risks, they just think it's the same toy but a little bit cheaper".

The products, including those marketed at toddlers and infants, were also found to contain choking hazards and sharp parts.

Labubu dolls have become a viral hit and often sell out quickly.

Made by the Chinese toy manufacturer Pop Mart, prices of the doll can range from £16 to £50, with rare editions going for hundreds of pounds on resale sites.

Rhys Hurley, head of intelligence partnerships at the IPO, said with any trending toy, demand outstripped supply and the "criminals are really good at filling that gap".

He said he had seen Labubus selling on the black market for about £5 and warned customers if the price seemed too good to be true, it probably was.

While many counterfeit versions, often called Lafufus, look like the real deal, he quickly showed how easily the eyes popped out, buttons fell off and stitching came apart.

Fakes do not go through the same product testing that legal toys do and 75% of those seized failed safety tests.

Customers are advised to only shop with retailers they know and trust.

Border Force announced it would run an intensification of seizing counterfeit goods in the run up to Christmas day.

Birmingham's Trading Standards team has also been ramping up the pressure during the festive period.

It carried out a raid this month which it said saw them stop "wagon loads" of counterfeit goods destined for markets and stalls.

Mr Hurley said counterfeiting was the second largest source of criminal income worldwide, second only to drug trafficking.

"When you are paying £5 or £10 for a fake Labubu doll, that money isn't going into the local economy, it's going straight into the hands of criminals and we know that money then goes to support anything from benefit fraud to human trafficking."