Faked or Debunked
False Evidence
Sometimes things aren’t always what they seem. The orb in the photo is merely an insect, or the photo shown us by a friend is a prank.
Why do people fake?
Fake Evidence
In the world of the paranormal, the line between reality and fabrication is often blurry. From shaky night-vision videos to mysterious EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings, ghost evidence floods social media, YouTube, and even television shows. But not all of it is genuine. For many, faking ghost evidence is a fast track to fame—an easy way to go viral or build a loyal following. With the right editing tools and a good scream at the right time, a spooky clip can rack up millions of views overnight.
Beyond internet clout, some people fabricate ghost encounters to satisfy personal beliefs or reinforce a narrative. In some cases, they desperately want the supernatural to be real, and staging encounters becomes a way to validate their own convictions. Others may use fake evidence to attract business—haunted tours, YouTube monetization, or even paranormal merchandise can be highly profitable. The incentive to embellish or outright create paranormal events is often driven more by attention seeking and economics than curiosity.
However, the downside is significant. Faking ghost evidence undermines the credibility of real paranormal investigations and fuels public skepticism. When hoaxes are exposed, it not only discredits the individual but damages the reputation of the entire field. While the thrill of a good ghost story will always have an audience, the truth—however eerie or mundane—deserves a space free from manipulation.
Join us here as we look at some faked evidence…
Creative Photography
Lies with Light
As a certified professional photographer, I can tell you this: creating a “ghost photo” is far easier than most people realize. With little more than a long exposure and a touch of creative light painting, even a moderately skilled photographer can conjure up a convincing apparition. And thanks to modern smartphone apps, you don’t even need a camera—or photography training—to pull off the trick. With just a few taps, anyone can insert a spectral figure into an otherwise ordinary shot.
At WISPS, we regularly receive so-called “proof” of the paranormal in the form of these manipulated images. Often, they come from well-meaning enthusiasts who’ve unknowingly fallen victim to a prank, or who are unaware of debunkable external factors. Other times, they arrive with less innocent intentions—crafted to mislead or even discredit our work by attempting to pass off fabrications as genuine evidence.
That’s why WISPS has a clear and unwavering policy: we do not authenticate photographs unless they were taken by our own investigators. Even then, every image undergoes rigorous scrutiny by multiple team members. We examine external factors, environmental conditions, and technical details to rule out natural explanations before considering a photo compelling enough to present as evidence.
To further educate and inform, we are building a gallery showcasing faked and debunked photos—examples of how easily images can deceive, and how careful analysis reveals the truth. This section of our site is brand new, so check back often as we continue to expand it with fresh material.
-Castle
Faked and Debunked
Evidence Gallery
Welcome to our Faked and Debunked Evidence Gallery. Pick a tab and start exploring evidence we have captured or evidence we have received which has been debunked or completely fabricated.
A curious photo landed in our inbox, courtesy of a submitter who, we suspect, had fallen victim to a prank. The twist? They were unwavering in their belief that the image was genuine, brushing off every attempt we made to help them see otherwise. To set the record straight and to help educate others, we created a video highlighting the telltale signs of manipulation—though matters quickly escalated when the submitter threatened legal action over our use of the photo. Ironically, we had to gently remind them that Sony, the rightful owner of the Woman in Black image they’d unknowingly shared, would be far more justified in pursuing such claims.
This audio file, though not submitted as evidence, serves as a strong example of contamination. Contamination occurs when an investigator carelessly whispers or makes a sound without identifying it on the recording. Such noises can easily be mistaken for EVPs. If the source of the sound is unclear, all investigators present must review the file to determine whether there is a reasonable explanation. In cases where the audio remains questionable after review, it must be discarded as unusable.