hoax

noun

A deceptive trick or fabrication, often intended to mislead or amuse.

"The bomb threat turned out to be a hoax."

verb

To deceive someone with a trick or a fabricated story.

"They tried to hoax the public with a fake story."

Thesaurus

Synonyms: humbug, fraudulence, fraud, put-on, dupery, play a joke on, pull someone's leg