How to Spot a Fake Funko Pop

Fake Funko Pops are more common than most people think, especially for exclusives, chases and anything that sells for more than retail. We've been buying and selling collectibles since 2005, and we see knockoffs come through all the time. The good news is that most fakes give themselves away if you know where to look.

1. Start with the price

This is the biggest red flag. If a convention exclusive or a chase is listed way below what everyone else is charging, ask why. Real rare Pops don't usually get dumped for a fraction of their value. Be especially careful with sellers using stock photos instead of pictures of the actual item.

2. Check the box printing

Real Pop boxes have sharp, clean printing. Look at:

• The character art and logos: fakes are often blurry, washed out or slightly pixelated.
• The fonts: the character name and the "POP!" logo should match other boxes from the same line. Wrong fonts or odd spacing are a giveaway.
• Spelling: misspelled names or legal text happen more than you'd expect on knockoffs.
• The box number: compare it to the official number for that character.

3. Look at the bottom of the box

Real Pops have the copyright and licensing info printed clearly, along with a UPC barcode and a production code. If the bottom of the box is missing these, or the text is fuzzy, that's a problem.

4. Inspect the figure

You can usually see a lot through the window:

• Paint: real Pops have clean lines. Fakes often have paint bleeding over edges, missing details or colors that are just a little off.
• Shape: the head and body proportions on fakes can look slightly wrong, like the head is too round or the eyes sit in the wrong place.
• Stamps: real figures usually have Funko and copyright markings on the bottom of a foot or the head.

5. Check the sticker

Fake exclusive and chase stickers are a whole problem by themselves. A real sticker is crisp, the right size and the right color. A fake one might be blurry, too glossy, too thin or slightly the wrong shade. If you're not sure, compare it with photos of verified copies of the same Pop.

6. Check the window and plastic

The plastic window on real boxes is clear and fits neatly. Cheap, cloudy or wrinkled plastic and uneven glue are common on fakes.

Where to buy safely

The easiest way to avoid fakes is to buy from a seller you trust. We're an authorized retailer, which means everything we sell comes through official channels, and every Pop is backed by our authenticity guarantee. You can read more about us on our About page or check the FAQ.

If you ever get a Pop from us and something looks off, reach out. We'll take care of it.