Misinterpretation is another element. People might think they see something supernatural but it's actually something very normal. Such as seeing a man in a vampire costume and thinking he's a real vampire. This often leads to the false sense of horror in the none true horror story.
Sure. There's a story about a vampire. But this vampire wasn't real. A girl thought she saw a vampire in the cemetery at night. It had pale skin and red eyes. However, it was just a man who was wearing a costume for a movie shoot that was happening nearby. He was just waiting for his ride home and the girl misinterpreted the situation completely.
Well, some true stories in 'ebook true stories' might be about historical events as seen through the eyes of ordinary people. Like the account of a family during a war, how they coped with shortages, bombings and the separation of family members. These stories can give us a more personal and vivid view of history.