HD-001 · 1835
Newspaper hoax · New York
The Great Moon Hoax — a penny paper invented life on the Moon and never apologized
Rival Herald, Aug 1835 · Exposed
HD-002 · 1957
Broadcast hoax · Switzerland
The Spaghetti-Tree Hoax — the BBC told eight million Britons pasta grew on trees, and they believed it
Acknowledged as an April Fools' joke, Apr 1957 · Exposed
HD-003 · 1985
Magazine hoax · New York
Sidd Finch — a magazine invented a 168-mph pitcher and hid the confession in the headline
Revealed in the Apr 15, 1985 issue · Exposed
HD-004 · 2009
Media stunt · Colorado
Balloon Boy — a father staged a runaway balloon for fame and pleaded guilty
Falcon's on-air slip; sheriff's findings, Oct 2009 · Convicted
HD-005 · 1810
Practical hoax · London
The Berners Street Hoax — a one-guinea bet buried a London street in deliveries
Press named Hook; he confessed in 1836 · Exposed
HD-006 · 1981
Journalism fraud · Washington
Janet Cooke — a Pulitzer-winning child addict who never existed
Resume check after the prize; she confessed · Exposed
HD-007 · 1998
Journalism fraud · Washington
Stephen Glass — a magazine star who fabricated dozens of stories
Forbes Digital Tool checked one story; Lane confirmed · Exposed
HD-008 · 2003
Press fabrication · New York
Jayson Blair — a Times reporter invented the news from his Brooklyn apartment
San Antonio paper + internal review, May 2003 · Exposed
HD-009 · 1991
Field hoax · Hampshire
The Crop Circle Hoax — two pub regulars built the mystery with a plank and a rope
Today confession + on-camera demo, Sept 1991 · Confessed
HD-010 · 1998
Literary hoax · New York
Nat Tate — a novelist and a rock star invented a painter the art world claimed to remember
David Lister, The Independent, ~1 week later · Exposed
HD-011 · 1917
Newspaper hoax · New York
The Bathtub Hoax — a humorist’s invented history that outran its own retraction
Mencken's own 1926 confession · Exposed
HD-012 · 1964
Art-world hoax · Gothenburg
Pierre Brassau — a zoo chimpanzee was praised by critics as an avant-garde master
Axelsson's own reveal, 1964 · Exposed
HD-013 · 1967
Literary hoax · New York
Report from Iron Mountain — a satire posed as a leaked study and was believed for years
Lewin's own 1972 NYT admission · Exposed
HD-014 · 2004
Media hoax · London
The Yes Men’s Dow Hoax — a fake spokesman promised Bhopal justice, then erased it
Dow's own denial, ~2 hours later · Exposed
HD-015 · 1994
Internet hoax · Redmond
The Microsoft Buys the Church Hoax — a joke press release became the first viral fake news
Microsoft's formal denial, Dec 16, 1994 · Debunked