Beware of fake Fingerlings sold online

Counterfeiters take advantage of huge holiday demand

SAN ANTONIO – Parents on a desperate hunt for Fingerlings, the season's hot toy, should beware of counterfeits marketed through social media and sold online.

The robotic monkey finger puppets chirp, giggle and even toot. The huge demand has made them very difficult to find in stores and has enticed counterfeiters to sell their cheap knockoffs to unsuspecting buyers.

The Fingerlings, made by WowWee, are on the wish lists of a lot of kids, including Sonja Powell's granddaughters.

"I thought they were really cute and that the girls would love them," she said.

So when an ad for them popped up on the North Carolina grandmother's Facebook feed, she clicked on it and bought them. When the toys finally arrived, though, she was not amused.

"At first, I didn't think I would ever get them, and then when they finally came in the mail, I was so excited," she said. "And then I was, like, 'You've got to be kidding me. It's not what I ordered.'"

The toys Powell said she received were actually called Finger Monkeys. She is far from the first to be duped.

"What these scammers are doing is trying to find victims through social media advertisements or send emails," said Miguel Segura, with the Better Business Bureau. "They will invest a couple of dollars to target people through social media."

To try to avoid being taken, the BBB advises people to purchase from reputable retailers you know.

WowWee has also advised customers to buy through its authorized retailers, who are listed on its website. The manufacturer has taken legal action against counterfeiters and has warned customers about third-party sellers. 

To identify authentic Fingerlings, look for the WowWee name, compare the packaging and look for misspelled words or names on the boxes other than Fingerlings.

The suggested retail price of a Fingerling monkey is $14.99, although profiteers are selling them for as much as $75.

The BBB warns customers to look out for sellers offering extreme deals on high-demand products, as that can be a sign the products aren't the real deal.

Websites such as Zoolert can help you find an in-store Fingerling by notifying you when a local store has your desired product in stock. Another strategy to land the elusive toy is to ask your favorite local stores when their shipments come in and then arrive early and wait.


About the Author:

Marilyn Moritz is an award-winning journalist dedicated to digging up information that can make people’s lives a little bit better. As KSAT’S 12 On Your Side Consumer reporter, she focuses on exposing scams and dangerous products and helping people save money.