How to spot a Fake Tsum Tsum

Tsums have become so popular that it is inevitable that counterfeits will be made to catch people out and make money. People new to tsums may not know how to spot fakes but I've also been caught out as some fakes are getting harder to spot; they're getting better at deceiving you. Here I hope to give you some tips on how to spot them and save you the disappointment or give you confirmation that your Japanese Tsum is in fact real.


Top tips:

• If you're buying on eBay, check the item description. If it says it's 'fan made goods' then it's not a genuine tsum. Also check the specification; if the tsum is noted as unbranded, then it is not genuine. Here is an example listing.

• If the price looks too good to be true then it probably is, especially if it is for a character that has sold out!
• Beware of characters that haven't been released at Disney Stores yet. They will be fakes but maybe sneak peeks of what is to come! (fake Aladdins and Lilos appeared on eBay soon after their collections were announced). See my page "List of Tsums that have been released in the UK" for a list of collections that have been released in the UK (will be similar to the U.S.) if you're not sure.
• Avoid buying tsums from China or Hong Kong, but of course people from outside these countries will try and sell on their fakes as genuine. It is against eBay policy for someone to do this so if you've been caught out do something about it if it's not too late! If you type in 'Disney Tsum Tsum' to eBay, thousands of results come up. But if you filter it to show UK sellers' listings it goes down to below 1000! It shows how big the business is!
• Sellers will sometimes still use pictures of real tsums even if they're stated to be fan made so make sure you read the whole listing before you buy! Example:

• Always ask the seller if you're unsure, they should be honest with you otherwise they'll get bad feedback!
• Check tag consistency and bar codes. (see more in a moment)

Appearance differences

These are the easiest types of fakes to spot and are all over eBay. The main difference is that there is a key chain on the top (beware Japan DS are now releasing select tsums with chains (example here on Disney Store Japan's site). Some sellers will cut them off, but often left is a tell tale loop or a stub where the loop has been cut off.

Notice in these pictures the cardboard tag is identical to the ones on genuine tsums so be careful.

Facial expressions and eyebrows can vary in colour to real tsums. Fake tsums are often stuffed a lot and not very squashy (a bit like Clintons ones actually). The material is also of poorer quality and colour intensity can vary a lot between fake and real tsums.

Example of a genuine Japanese Tsum Key Chain (taken directly from www.disneystore.co.jp)

By the looks the keychain is metal on these, the fakes have plastic keychains.

Here are some pictures of my Jessie tsum that is a fake; I was caught out and so was the seller. Note this did not even have a loop from a keychain- some fakes are getting 'better'. It was the tags that gave it away! At first look it is a very good fake, not overly stuffed and small like the DS versions. The material tag even has the Disney Parks logo on which I didn't expect fakes to have (copyright etc). However I had some doubts when I first received it because normally if there is a Disney Parks logo on the material tag, it will be on the cardboard one too. This is what I mean by tag 'consistency'.

HOWEVER if you use the handy camera function on Google's translate smart phone app, all is revealed. Japanese tsums have the name of the tsum on the back and because most people outside of Japan cannot read Japanese, you can be caught out. Jessie is not Jessie at all, but Dale! You can also type in the bar code number into Google and if it comes up with a different tsum to yours, then unfortunately you have a fake. Real tsums would never have the wrong tag!

Side by side comparison of a Lilo Tsum

Photos kindly used with permission of Jodie Smith of 'Disney Tsum Tsum Community UK' .

 Real Lilo on the left, fake on the right. See the difference in size and shape and details such as the hibiscus flower (note Japanese Lilo did have a hibiscus flower but not the UK/US variation)!

See Disney Store Japan's Lilo Listing for images. Fake tsums stack less well due to their shape.

See the keychain on the right tsum- easiest feature to spot a fake with. 

Front of a UK/US Disney Store Tsum Tag.

 Back of a UK/US Disney Store Tsum Tag.

Inside of a fake tag (very similar looking to the inside of a real Japanese tsum tag- see my tag variations page.)

You can check these tags by using the Google translate camera function (have to focus it well to get a clear shot or by typing the bar code into Google. On typing the bar code above into Google, this listing came up. It is for Winnie the Pooh bumblebee not Lilo clearly! Tsums are also currently priced at 600+ yen in Japan so be careful!

So what does a real Tsum look like?

These pictures are courtesy of Christina Loftus of 'Disney Tsum Tsum Community UK' Facebook group. Take note of the tags (this is an American Jessie).

I hope this has helped you to identify fakes or confirm your tsum is real. If you have any questions or anything you'd like to add please comment below! Thanks for reading!