Category: Fake

The Boy Who Gave His Father Shakespeare

A forged signature was enough to delight his Shakespeare-obsessed father. So William Henry Ireland produced another document. Then another. Before long, he had created letters, poetry, relics – and an entirely “lost” Shakespeare play. What began as a son’s attempt to win his father’s approval became one of Britain’s most audacious literary hoaxes.

The Night London Rioted Over a Man in a Bottle

In January 1749, Londoners packed the Haymarket to witness an apparently impossible feat: a man climbing into an ordinary wine bottle. The performer never appeared. The audience did, however – and when they realised the trick had already been played on them, things got spectacularly out of hand.

The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits

In 1726, Mary Toft became one of the most notorious women in England after apparently giving birth to rabbits. Doctors investigated, royal physicians became involved and London was transfixed. But behind one of history’s most infamous medical hoaxes lies a stranger story of pregnancy, belief, deception and a young woman whose role may have been far more complicated than the legend suggests.

When Britain Loved Being Fooled

Britain has a long and glorious history of being fooled. From forged antiquities and impossible performances to mysterious princesses and women supposedly giving birth to rabbits, the greatest hoaxes succeed not because our ancestors were stupid, but because someone gave them exactly what they wanted to believe.

Thursday Throwback – The Highgate Vampire – An Exercise In Deception?

  • July 2, 2026
  • 160

Another classic from the Mysterious Times mahoosive vault 🧛‍♂️

Robin Hood – Medieval Murderer Extraordinaire

Just for fun – Robin Hood, folk hero who robbed the rich to help the poor…
Or marauding murderer with a mob of mad mates? 😁

The Dark Reality of Psychic Television Fraud

The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources and documented cases related to the topic of psychic television frauds. While efforts […]

The Fowler Sisters of Bakewell – A Tale of Witchcraft, Fear, and Misfortune

Early 17th century England was a time steeped in religious fervour and deep-seated superstitions, the fear of witchcraft permeated society. It was a period when […]

The Haunting Tale of BBC’s “Ghostwatch” Program

“Ghostwatch,” a groundbreaking BBC program aired on Halloween night in 1992, blurred reality and fiction in a compelling mockumentary-style broadcast. It presented a live investigation into paranormal activity, sparking controversy and fear. Despite initial backlash, its legacy endures, influencing future horror projects and sparking ongoing discussions about media ethics and audience manipulation. “Ghostwatch” remains a powerful and enduring force in television horror.

Scratchy Fanny: The Ghost of Cock Lane

The legend of Scratchy Fanny, the Ghost of Cock Lane, emerged in 18th-century London. The Parsons family claimed their house was haunted by the spirit of Fanny, leading to public hysteria. Investigations unraveled inconsistencies and ultimately accused Richard Parsons of perpetrating a hoax for financial gain. The story endures as a captivating chapter in paranormal history.

The Fox Sisters: Spiritualism’s Intriguing Awakening in 19th Century America.

In the 19th century, the Fox Sisters were at the forefront of the Spiritualism movement, claiming to communicate with the spirit world. Their popularity led to widespread attention, challenging traditional beliefs and sparking debates. Despite facing skepticism and admitting to fraudulent practices, their legacy endured, influencing subsequent paranormal movements and sparking ongoing scholarly debate.

The Buckshaw Beast Case.

  The Dawn Chorus in rural Derbyshire can be a wonderful treat to behold. The sound of blackbirds vying for the role of lead vocalist […]

MT Chronicles: Mysterious Men in Black Sightings Follow Bizarre Incidents in UK Village

Residents of a UK village are perplexed by a disappearing tractor, exploding sheep, and encounters with Men in Black. Experts offer theories, from stress to extra-terrestrial involvement, as authorities investigate the odd events and their possible connections..

MT Chronicles: Mysterious Agricultural Anomalies Unfold in Quaint British Town.

In the serene town of (MT), unusual events have left residents puzzled. Tractors are disappearing, causing concern among farmers and affecting local businesses. The community is unsettled by rumors of a government facility and connections to exploding sheep incidents, yearning for clarity in this mystifying situation.

MT Chronicles: Unraveling the Enigma of Exploding Sheep Amidst Extraterrestrial Speculation

In the tranquil town of MT, nestled amidst rolling hills and fertile fields, an extraordinary mystery has unfolded, capturing the community’s attention and prompting speculation about extraterrestrial involvement..

Illusions in the Skies: Unmasking UFO Hoaxes and the Intriguing Role of Pepper’s Ghost Effect.

In the realm of UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters, the use of visual effects, including the Pepper’s Ghost technique, has added a layer of complexity […]

William H. Mumler and the Art of Spirit Photography

The art of spirit photography took off in the 1860s and has as a main focus photographing ghosts, or spiritual entities. It was basically used […]

The 10 worst Internet hoaxes of 2014

In September, Alisha Hessler — alias Jasmine Tridevil, of Tampa — captivated the Internet and confounded plastic surgeons with the claim that she’d gotten a […]

The Cooper Family Falling Body Photo

The story goes that sometime in the 1950s the Cooper family of Texas bought an old house and moved into it. On their first night […]

Who is Teresa Fidalgo? Debunking the fake ghost story that’s got Instagram spooked

While numerous White Lady stories like this have been dreamt up over the years, something about the specificity of ‘Teresa Fidalgo’ and her supposed but […]

Gollum ‘found’ in China: Other alien sightings that turned out to be hoaxes

The truth is out there – but disappointingly it’s not as exciting as we first thought.. And one Chinese tourist has learnt that this week. […]

He’s Not a Ghost Witness… He’s a Very Naughty Boy!

Anyone seen this story in the press yet? “Mitch Glover, 14, was visiting the Neuville-St. Vaast German Cemetery in France on a class trip and […]

Giggle-Inducing Fake Occult Items and Specimens

Enjoy some ghastly and ridiculous bits of occult fakery… read more Giggle-Inducing Fake Occult Items and Specimens | Stuff to Blow Your Mind.

Ghost Photo Apps – Good or Bad for Paranormal Investigation? | planetpreternatural

With advances in the power/abilities of photo manipulation software, almost anyone can now make passable fakes with very little technical know how required. With the […]

A Rather Embarrassing Night for Psychic Sally in Middlesbrough

I recently went to to see the ‘psychic to the stars’ Sally Morgan at Middlesbrough town hall, and if there was one word I could […]