We’ve seen a lot of weird hoaxes at Popfi, but it’s very rare that the person behind the hoax is willing to come forward and take responsibility for his actions.  For the last five years, San Diego, California has played host to a whole bunch of mysterious lights in the sky, usually red in color.  They were most recently spotted on New Year’s Eve.  As it turns out, they were the work of a guy named Todd Fassler, who released the weather balloon and  road flare combinations to give people a fake UFO to talk about.  Weather balloons ought to sound familiar.

Balloon Boy’s parents are at the business end of the justice system for just such a hoax, except that Fassler’s hoax is harmless and Balloon Boy cost Ft. Collins, Colorado, a fortune in fuel, police fees, and general inconvenience thanks to their publicity stunt to try and sell a reality TV show.   Fassler says his pranking days are over, so if you see any lights over San Diego from now on, just assume they’re aliens.

Tags: San Diego, California, UFO hoax, UFOs, pranks, Todd Fassler, debunking a UFO sighting, behind the hoax, pranksters

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