A hoax is an elaborate story created to trick people into believing something false. Many people create hoaxes using the internet, while others rely on popular trends to make their stories stand out. If you would like to create a hoax, but aren't sure how to go about making it believable, the information on this page will show you how to pull off a Hoax.

The tips on this page are intended for informational purposes only. In some cases, the perpetrating of a hoax may be considered illegal. Mahalo does not encourage, support or condone any illegal activity.

The tips on this page are intended for informational purposes only. In some cases, the perpetrating of a hoax may be considered illegal. Mahalo does not encourage, support or condone any illegal activity.

</note>

• There is a lot of finesse involved in creating an elaborate and believable hoax. With communication being more widespread than ever thanks to the Internet, pulling off a hoax is probably a lot easier than it sounds. Read on to learn some tricks that will help you pull off a hoax.

(Creative Commons photo by hillaryh)

• Before you can set out to pull the wool over the world's eyes, you need to have an incredibly clever plan. People tend to be skeptical about that which they deem to be outrageous, so keep your hoax believable and make sure they can't shoot a lot of holes into right away. The more foolproof your plan, the easier it will be to convince the masses.

• Once you have put together the perfect plan, it's time to find an outlet to unleash your hoax on the world. The Internet is a popular choice, but you want to make sure you drop the information bomb in the right places, otherwise it might get overlooked.

• There are a number of different types of hoaxes you can try. Drawing on anything that the public may find absolutely unbelievable, and then providing fake proof of the claim is always a good joke. For example, in 2008, two men from Georgia used the internet and a local news team to pull a Bigfoot hoax over on the world, backing up their claims with so-called expert documentation and offering a full blown story to the news. The important thing to remember is that letting too many people get close to the situation will cause it to unravel more quickly, exposing your hoax before you're ready. Different types of hoaxes include:

1. Email hoaxes
2. Internet hoaxes
3. UFO/alien hoaxes
4. Ghost/paranormal hoaxes
5. Yeti/Bigfoot hoaxes

• One of the best parts about pulling off a hoax is watching the world scramble to find the truth. Before they unravel your secret, the excitement will buzz like a hive of bees throughout the news and all across the internet. The better the hoax, the bigger the buzz!

• Perpetrating a hoax is considered fraud on many levels, and fraud is illegal. No matter how funny your hoax may be, it could wind you up paying a fine, or even in jail. Be careful when plotting your hoax. Learn the laws and use them to your advantage.

• Putting together an elaborate plan and then finding the right outlet for your hoax to gather momentum is the best way to pull off a hoax. Once your hoax is off the ground, you'll want to sit back and watch it take off. Eventually, your hoax will come undone, and you will be exposed. Be sure to take legal precautions to protect yourself before you even start, otherwise you might find yourself facing charges, and possibly even jail time. The popularity you find during the height of a good hoax will be fun, but don't be surprised if it turns on you in the end.

•