Hoaxes are attempts to make people believe unlikely things. Unlike confidence tricks, money is not usually involved, but the trickster may try to play practical jokes, expose gullible people or annoy political or artistic rivals.

This category includes notable proven hoaxes and incidents determined to be hoaxes by reliable sources. An article's inclusion on this list is not intended to disparage the authenticity of the report, but to denote that it is in general considered, or evidenced, as having being created as a hoax, or was known to be false (or a joke) as created.

Note: To forestall disputes among editors, religions and religious figures are excluded from inclusion in this category, although this may be disputed by some editors.

Application of this category to any article implicating conduct by living persons must comply with Wikipedia's policy regarding biographies of living people.