DURHAM, N.C. — Have you heard of them? It’s the latest toy craze. The little monster dolls are called Labubu’s, and they are a hot buy right now.

What’s just as hot as the dolls, fakes known as Lafufu.

Alyssa Parker with the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas says, “They come in a variety of different colors, and one of the exciting parts about it is that you get to unbox them because you may not know exactly what it is or what color it is, but unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this and trying to sell what they’re claiming are real Labubu’s, but they are fake.

The BBB says dozens of scams related to counterfeit Labubus have been reported to the BBB’s Scam Tracker. The copycats are showing up online and in stores, and are even sold at events. The fakes are known as Lafufus, and while they look similar to the real deal, there are ways to tell the difference.

“One of the telltale signs is the fact that the real Labubu has nine teeth. Their face is a specific color and actually has an authenticity stamp on the bottom of their foot.”

“The fake ones will not have that; they may have a different number of teeth in their face, maybe a little bit of a different color,” Parker adds.

On Pop Mart’s website, which is a Chinese designer toy company and manufacturer of Labubu, they explain step by step how to verify the authenticity of the toy. Both the box and the wash label have a QR code that can be scanned, directing you to a verification page.

Oner person said their daughter bought two toys, which she thought were Labubu’s, but after taking a closer look, they have exactly nine teeth and a pale peach-colored face; both are missing the QR code on the tag.

Parker says, “They are expensive. They’re fun toys. I know a lot of people get a lot of joy out of them, but you just want to make sure that you’re spending your hard-earned money on something that is legitimate and you’re just not getting scammed. Some Labubu’s can come in a blind box, where it’s a mystery until it’s opened.”

A collector of authentic Labubu’s explained to ABC Raleigh affiliate WTVD what the box should look like. Kass Carey, a Labubu collector, says, “The authentic Labubus always have some sort of embossed or shelling, just different lettering on the box, and then on the back, you are always going to see a QR code that’s holographic and the Pop Mart logo.

To protect your money, be careful buying online other than from Pop Mart or from one of its authorized stores. If buying on social media, make sure you use extreme caution. Always check out the reviews of the company.