Based on the reports, the BBB contacted other Beanie Baby dealers in Illinois and Arizona who confirmed direct knowledge that some of the most valued Beanie Babies are being counterfeited. The BBB also learned that a shipment of counterfeit Beanie Babies was seized by the FBI at Chicago O'Hare airport last week. The counterfeits are made to look authentic, even to the tags which are attached. The tags on the counterfeits may, upon close inspection, reveal differences which can be detected if compared with an authentic Beanie Baby of the same model. One dealer reports that the word wash, as printed on the tag, does not have a period after it as does the real one.
Dealers say they can also detect sewing differences.
In some cases they believe the eyes feel different on the inside. Some are not cut and sewn with the same precision or the same stitching patterns as the real ones. The BBB urges buyers to be extremely cautious in buying any Beanie Baby products from unfamiliar sources such as on the Internet. The best, most reliable sources are Ty dealers with local stores. Some private parties may also have established a record of reliability in selling from their homes.