On April Fools’ Day, everyone can appreciate a light-hearted prank. But what about those pranks that get out of hand? The ones that fool everyone into believing a lie? Well, in some cases, jail time is the consequence. Other times, it just makes everyone feel stupid. Here are 10 famous hoaxes that tricked everyone. Did they fool you?
Piltdown Man
Just when scientists thought they had the missing link in the human evolution puzzle, it turned out to be a hoax. Charles Dawson, an amateur geologist, claimed to have discovered a fossilized skull that was said to be from a new early-human species. For almost 40 years in the early 20th century, scholars believed the new species connected humans to primates and represented a key stage in human evolution. While the precise motive for the deception remains debated, the methods—connecting an orangutan jaw to a human skull and doctoring the bones to look aged—eventually came to light.
Hitler Diaries
When a West German magazine called Stern published an excerpt from Hitler’s alleged diary, the public was enthralled. Who wouldn’t be curious about what went on in the mind of the world’s most hated dictator? Skepticism remained, and a handwriting expert was brought in to confirm the authenticity of the diary. It turned out that someone had forged the entries. The pages that were published were not from Hitler’s diary. Even though someone may have fooled others, it’s still fascinating to ponder “what if…”
Cardiff Giant
In 1869, two workers were digging a new well on a farm in Cardiff, New York. They happened upon a 10-foot petrified man. News of the discovery went around, and pretty soon there was a crowd paying to see the phenomenon. The Cardiff Giant continued to make appearances at museums and universities, but a man named George Hull claimed he was responsible. He had hired a stone-carver to build it and had it buried on the farm. The hoax was a “get-rich-quick scheme” that seemed to be pretty successful.
Great Moon Hoax
Before Orson Welles scared the bejesus out of the public with a radio adaptation of War of the Worlds, there was the Great Moon Hoax. The Sun newspaper published six articles that talked about strange life forms living on the moon. This included unicorns, two-legged beavers, and humanoids that looked like bats. The articles were claimed to have been written by a famous astronomer and published in an academic journal. The hoax convinced the public that the moon was abundant with life. It wasn’t true. But it fooled some.
Fiji the Mermaid
People traveled far and wide to see P.T. Barnum’s American Museum in New York to view strange oddities and magnificent curiosities. One of his most famous exhibits was Fiji the Mermaid. Tourists believed the creature came out of the sea, but it was actually fake. It was made by stitching a monkey’s torso and head onto the body of a fish. Most people believed it was real. Thankfully, it’s not; it looks like something straight out of a nightmare.
Amityville Horror
An Amityville house became the most famous haunted house after a book and film about its supposed hauntings were released. The Lutz family claimed they experienced paranormal activity, such as cold spots, strange odors, and objects moving on their own. The house was believed to be haunted after the home’s previous occupants were murdered. While audiences were captivated by the Lutz family’s account of the hauntings, the “true story” was mostly fabricated or exaggerated. Even under suspicions of deception, people are still thrilled to believe the house was truly haunted.
Mary Toft and the Rabbits
During the 18th century, medical professionals struggled to establish themselves as a credible source. The public distrusted doctors, even more so after Mary Toft and her rabbits. Toft claimed to have given birth to animal parts such as rabbits and eels. Some surgeons validated the claim, believing it to be true. However, Toft tricked them. Surgeons who substantiated the claim ruined their reputations when it was revealed, and she was imprisoned for fraud.
Balloon Boy
In 2009, a Colorado family called the police when their son went up in the air in a helium balloon. Shaped like a saucer, the balloon traveled 50 miles and a frantic effort was put forth to save the boy. However, the boy was discovered hiding in the attic. The parents admitted it was a hoax and faced jail time and fines. The stunt was intended to gain publicity. Unfortunately, they didn’t consider the consequences.
Alien Autopsy
In 1995, video footage was released purported to show an alien autopsy filmed in 1947, after the famous Roswell landing. The grainy footage depicted a doctor cutting open an alien cadaver. The video spread on the early internet, and many believed it to be real. Unfortunately, it was fabricated, and the mystery of Roswell remained.
The Cottingley Fairies
In 1917, two young cousins took pictures of themselves with what appeared to be real fairies. Some people believed the fairies were real, including the author of Sherlock Holmes. It wasn’t until the 1980s, when the girls were old women, that they admitted the fairies were fake. Skeptics rejoiced when the news came out, while others felt duped. It just goes to show how eager people are to believe in something fantastic.
