Because of increasing LEGO® popularity the volume of fake minifigs has increased substantially. We are going to talk about how to spot fake minifigs and how to avoid them.
A large LEGO® set and even LEGO® minifigs are a bit pricy and the lure of inexpensive fake LEGO® pieces is strong. So how do you identify a fake minifig?
Quality
The first clue is the quality of the piece. There are a number of China based companies producing fake LEGO® and while these pieces may fit together with bricks from the same fake brand, with the official LEGO® brand the fit is suspect. Check the fit of the piece with known LEGO® pieces. The pieces should snap into place easily and hold tightly. If the piece does not snap on or is loose then you likely have a fake minifig.
Next check the feel and color of the plastic. Compared with a real LEGO® minifig does the suspect piece feel the same weight and size? Fake minifigs may have the correct pattern on the body but with incorrect coloring. Compare the suspect piece with a known real LEGO® . Pictures are available on Brinklink and Brickowl you can use for comparison. Are the colors and patterns sharp and distinct? If the colors are smeared or not positioned properly you likely have a fake minifig.
Packaging
The next clue to spotting a fake minifig is the packaging. In cases there is no packaging and the fake minifigs are displayed on a large stud plate. The seller is purchasing the pieces in bulk and pieces are not individually packaged. If the minifig does come in a package then the packaging should contain the LEGO® logo or the word LEGO®. Also check the text on the package for misspellings as this is a big clue in spotting a fake. If there is no packaging or the package is not printed with the LEGO® name you likely have a fake minifig.
Subject Matter
Many minifigs come as part of a much larger set and some minifigs are part of older retired LEGO® sets. If you encounter a seller that has these minifigs and selling them as new you likely have found a fake minifig. Also the seller may have a large amount of a particular minifig. This often occurs with rare or difficult to find minifigs and is an excellent clue that the minifigs are fake.
The companies producing fake minifigs have become rather bold lately and are producing minifigs that are do not have a LEGO® counterpart or are copies of existing LEGO® minifigs but in different colors. Using sites such as Brinklink and Brickowl can help you determine if a particular minifig is part of the LEGO® family. If LEGO® does not make the minifig you likely have a fake minifig.
Lego Logo
All LEGO® pieces have the word LEGO somewhere on the piece. Typically the word LEGO will appear on the top or inside the stud. For a minifig the LEGO word will appear inside the hair, hat or helmet. The head should have the word LEGO on the inside. The torso should have the word LEGO on the neck stud or on the base of the torso. The legs will have the LEGO word between the torso studs or on the bottom of the feet. Also LEGO® uses a unique italicized font for their logo and piece numbers. Make sure that this font is used for the text on the piece. If the minifig comes with accessories or a stand these item should also contain the LEGO word. If the LEGO word is missing from your piece you likely have a fake minifig.
Summary
So why all the fuss about fake minifigs? Well it is illegal to sell counterfeit products and purchasing fake minifigs just encourages the practice and supports illegal activity. You personally are not going to jail for purchasing fake minifigs but the seller may and at minimum have their inventory confiscated and destroyed. When pressed on whether their product is real fake sellers will often respond with the statement that their items are “LEGO compatible.” This is a big clue that the minifigs are fake and you should consider avoiding them. The best way to avoid purchasing fake minifigs or any LEGO® product is to purchase from retailers that sell official LEGO® products and are knowledgable in spotting fakes.