A hoax is a false or misleading statement, designed to deceive and manipulate people. It usually involves some kind of trickery or deception that is intended to make it appear as though something is true when in fact it isn't. Hoaxes can take many different forms, from fake news stories to fraudulent products or services, but they all share the same goal: to mislead people for personal gain or simply for the sake of causing mischief and confusion.