Since the reintroduction of Tamagotchi virtual pets in 2004, Counterfeit Tamagotchi toys have been circulating the online market. They are fake Tamagotchis which retain similar appearances to modern Tamagotchi pets, though they contain inferior programming that does not resemble the original toy. They cannot interact with official Tamagotchi toys, are made with cheaper materials, and are not suitable as a Tamagotchi alternative.