The following is a list of hoaxes: These types of hoaxes are semi-comical or private "sting operations" intended to expose people.
They usually encourage people to act foolishly or credulously by falling for patent nonsense that the hoaxer deliberately presents as reality.
Deliberate hoaxes or journalistic scandals that have drawn widespread attention include: This list does not include hoax articles published on or around April 1, a long list of which can be found in the List of April Fools' Day jokes article.