Its clear that a lot of their filmed interactions are staged and the cinematography reveals the intentions of the film maker. That being said, it is as real as any non-competition reality show can be. The characters are exaggerated in the first place but are then goaded, by their own vanity, to act even more eccentric. Everyone is calling it fake but these are real Amish people and the reason they don't dress and act in accordance with Orthodox Amish code is because the participants basically were never "confirmed" into the church. They never joined after rumspringa and are therefore not fully bound by the church, which benefits the church as they do the dirty work for the community. Not sure why it's so unbelievable, it's not like they are committing grievous crimes. All they do is break a windshield or pull a barn down every now and then if someone endangers the community or commits some grievous act not befitting of the Amish. While there is no Lancaster police, there is a Lancaster sheriff precinct, and they often look away from their actions as they, the Amish Mafia, are largely seen as an internal police force and it is more or less forbidden to contact "English" police over internal matters. You'll just have to decide for yourself.
Review of Amish Mafia
