The Dybbuk Box: A Haunted Hoax That Still Won't Say Shut

Was it the most haunted object in the world… or the internet’s greatest ghost story hustle?
In this episode of Inherited Hauntings, Nancy and Lindsey pry open (figuratively… we’re not that reckless) the infamous Dybbuk Box, a creepy wine cabinet said to imprison a malicious spirit from Jewish folklore. From its chilling “possession” stories and viral eBay listing to celebrity encounters and its current life behind glass in Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum, we unravel the tangled web of fact, fiction, and full-on fakelore.

But here’s the twist: in 2021, original seller Kevin Mannis admitted the entire backstory was made up. So… case closed? Not so fast. We explore every theory, from elaborate hoax to haunted-by-belief, and ask the question: can an object become cursed simply because enough people believe it is?

Also in this episode:

• Folklore vs. Fakelore Quiz — can you spot the real legends from the made-up ones?
• Why people ignore “DO NOT OPEN” warnings (spoiler: humans are bad at self-preservation)
• Paranormal marketing 101 — how a spooky story goes viral
• True crime crossover moments (fraud? cultural misrepresentation?)

If you love haunted objects, strange histories, paranormal controversies, and laughing while you question reality, this is your jam.

THE SCARIEST STORIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE TRUE.