20 Historical Hoaxes People Fell For

Hoaxes have always had a strange grip on human imagination. They often spread faster than the truth. Some were harmless pranks, while others shaped public opinion and culture for decades. This list explores 20 historical hoaxes that fooled people across different eras, showing just how easy it is for fiction to masquerade as fact.

1. 1. The Cardiff Giant (1869)

In 1869, workers digging a well in Cardiff, New York, unearthed what appeared to be a massive, petrified human figure. News of the “stone giant” spread like wildfire, drawing thousands of spectators who eagerly paid to glimpse the ancient wonder.

2. 2. The Piltdown Man (1912)

When amateur archaeologist Charles Dawson claimed to have found fossilized remains of a human ancestor in Piltdown, England, the scientific world erupted with excitement. The skull fragments appeared to bridge the gap between apes and humans, a supposed “missing link” that confirmed British pride in human evolution.

3. 3. War of the Worlds Radio Panic (1938)

On Halloween eve in 1938, Orson Welles’ dramatic radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds caused mass hysteria. Presented as a series of live news reports describing an alien invasion in New Jersey, the performance fooled listeners who missed the program’s introduction.

4. 4. The Loch Ness Monster Photos (1934)

When a London doctor published a blurry photograph of a long-necked creature rising from Scotland’s Loch Ness, the world went wild. Newspapers declared proof that the fabled “Nessie” was real, and tourists flocked to the misty lake hoping for a glimpse.

5. 5. The Cottingley Fairies (1917)

Two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, claimed to have photographed fairies dancing in their English garden. The photos captured the imagination of the public during World War I, when hope and escapism were in short supply.

6. 6. The Great Moon Hoax (1835)

In the summer of 1835, readers of The New York Sun were astonished by reports that astronomers had discovered life on the moon, complete with bat-winged humanoids, crystal forests, and lunar temples. The serialized articles, supposedly written by a famous scientist, captivated audiences and skyrocketed newspaper sales.

7. 7. The Feejee Mermaid (1842)

When showman P.T. Barnum unveiled a preserved “mermaid” in his museum, visitors lined up in droves to see it. The creature had the upper body of a shriveled monkey and the tail of a fish, stitched together with startling realism. Advertised as a genuine sea specimen from the Pacific, it horrified and fascinated audiences in equal measure.

8. 8. The Hitler Diaries (1983)

In the early 1980s, a German magazine, Stern, announced the discovery of Adolf Hitler’s personal diaries — 62 volumes said to reveal the dictator’s private thoughts. Historians and collectors were stunned, and the publication paid millions for the supposed treasure.

9. 9. The Masked Marvel (1916)

In the golden age of early professional wrestling, promoters introduced a mysterious figure known only as “The Masked Marvel.” He appeared unbeatable, taking down opponents across the United States while refusing to reveal his identity.

10. 10. The Spaghetti Tree Hoax (1957)

On April Fools’ Day in 1957, the BBC aired a segment showing Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, complete with smiling women plucking noodles off branches. The three-minute report looked entirely credible thanks to the broadcaster’s reputation for seriousness.

11. 11. The Turk – Mechanical Chess Player (1770)

When the “Turk,” a life-sized mechanical chess player, debuted in Vienna, audiences were convinced they were witnessing a miracle of engineering. The machine, dressed in Ottoman robes, appeared to think, strategize, and defeat human challengers, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin.

12. 12. The Dreadnought Hoax (1910)

In a prank that embarrassed the British Navy, members of the literary Bloomsbury Group disguised themselves as Abyssinian royalty to gain a private tour of the HMS Dreadnought, Britain’s most powerful battleship. Wearing turbans, robes, and fake beards, they spoke gibberish and saluted grandly while the ship’s officers rolled out the red carpet.

13. 13. The Alien Autopsy Film (1995)

When a grainy black-and-white film surfaced showing doctors dissecting a supposed extraterrestrial from the 1947 Roswell incident, UFO believers erupted in excitement. The footage aired on TV networks worldwide, sparking debates among skeptics and enthusiasts.

14. 14. The Shakespeare Forgeries (1790s)

Teenager William Henry Ireland wanted to impress his father, a devoted Shakespeare fan, so he forged letters, documents, and even entire plays in the Bard’s handwriting. His forgeries fooled collectors, critics, and scholars who were desperate for any new Shakespearean material.

15. 15. The Balloon Boy Incident (2009)

In a bizarre modern hoax, a Colorado family claimed their six-year-old son had floated away inside a homemade helium balloon shaped like a flying saucer. News outlets covered the unfolding “rescue mission” live, as millions watched in horror and suspense.

16. 16. The Museum of Hoaxes’ Cock Lane Ghost (1762)

Londoners flocked to a small home on Cock Lane after hearing about a ghost that communicated through mysterious knockings. Locals believed it was the spirit of a murdered woman demanding justice from beyond the grave. Crowds filled the streets, and even noblemen visited to witness the haunting.

17. 17. The Pope Joan Legend (9th Century)

According to medieval legend, a woman disguised herself as a man, rose through the ranks of the clergy, and eventually became Pope, until her secret was exposed when she gave birth during a procession. The story spread widely across Europe and was retold for centuries, often as a warning against female ambition.

18. 18. The Sokal Affair (1996)

Physicist Alan Sokal decided to test the academic world’s standards by submitting a nonsense paper filled with jargon to the journal Social Text. To his surprise and amusement, the editors published it without realizing it was a parody. When Sokal revealed the truth, the academic community erupted in debate.

19. 19. The Millerite “Great Disappointment” (1844)

Preacher William Miller predicted that Christ would return on October 22, 1844, sparking a massive religious movement across America. Thousands of followers sold their belongings, donned white robes, and gathered on hillsides to await the end of the world.

20. 20. The Tasaday Tribe (1971)

In the early 1970s, the Philippine government announced the discovery of a “Stone Age tribe” living in total isolation from modern society. Photos of the Tasaday wearing leaves and using stone tools fascinated the world and drew international attention. However, after the country’s dictatorship fell, journalists returned to find the tribe wearing jeans and speaking modern dialects.

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