39 Hateful Hoaxes
From Fake Vampire News to YouTube Death Hoaxes:
Meghan Young — Oct 23, 2009 — Pop Culture
With the Balloon Boy still taking flight across all media channels, I’ve decided to compile a cluster of past hateful hoaxes TrendHunter.com has featured. Making headlines or making money, hoaxes will never cease to occur. But with our obsessive need for scandalous news, we are giving, at least some of these deceivers, exactly what they want. Bad publicity is still publicity, right?
38
Bigfoot Captured
Scientists to Reveal Bigfoot and DNA (Proof or Hoax?)
37
Video of Banksy's Paris Hilton Hoax
36
Morbid Candy
The Chocolate Newborn Hoax
35
Black Friday Ad Hoaxes
Best Buy, Future Shop, Circuit City Gift Card Email
34
Endangered Hair Color Hoaxes
Redheads Going Extinct?
33
Fake Vampire News
Twilight Filipino Adaptation is a Hoax
32
Hoax Hotelicopters
Faux Flying Hotel Sends Bloggers Who Don't Fact Check Into a Frenzy
31
Sexy 'Bluetoothing' Hoax Turns into Casual Dating (Sex?) Frenzy
30
$12000 Cash Only Meal?
The Suffolk Kitchen Knish Hoax
29
Suggestive Weight Loss Products
Is the Shake Weight Real, or Just a Well-Executed Hoax?
28
Hoax Hacks
Skullphone Fakes Digital Billboard Hijack
27
Guerrilla Marketing Gone Bad
Boston Hoax Turns Into Million Dollar Mishap
26
Deliberate Shortage
The Xbox Shortage Hoax of 2005
25
Serero Eiffel Tower Extension (UPDATE)
Le Grande Hoax
24
Mega Hoaxes
Biggest Drawing is a Fake
23
Viral Hoaxes as Art
Gallery Sells Prints of $999.99 iPhone App
22
Fake Memoirs
Herman Rosenblat's Holocaust Love Story Exposed as a Hoax
21
Engadget Hoax Drives Apple Stock Down $4 Billion
20
Cooking With Cellphones
Popcorn Popping Is Another Hoax
19
Cyborg Photography
Is The EyeCamera 4.1 With Wink and Shoot A Hoax?
18
Publicity Stunt Fails
Balloon Boy Saga Becomes the Falcon Heene Hoax
17
Inked Organs
Surgery to Tattoo Beating Hearts is a Hoax
16
Viral Hoaxes
Lost Brazilian Tribe Not Real
15
USB Pregnancy Tests
The p-Teq Hoax
14
Ancient Prank Texts?
The Voynich Manuscript Could Be The Hoax of the Century
13
Infect Your PC
Hundreds Click on Hoax Google Adsense Virus
12
Viral Career Hoaxes
"Best Job in the World" is a Fake Job in Alaska
11
Get Paid To Lose Weight
Hoax Website Offers $100 Per Pound
10
Global Warming A Hoax?
GM's Bob Lutz Talks To Colbert
9
UPDATE: Cooking Eggs with Mobile Phones a Hoax
8
YouTube For Hoax Debunking
Is Big Brother Watching? Hidden Camera In Digital TV Converter
7
Big Brand Hoaxes
BMW Dog Zapper
6
Email Hoaxes As Stories
‘Cry for Help: 36 Scam email messages from Africa'
5
Virus Gullibility
If Conficker Worm is Not An April Fool's Hoax, 15 Million PCs Could be Inf
4
Powdered Celebrity Skin
Famous Stardust (Hoax)
3
Viral Newspapers Hoaxes
1.2 Million 'New York Times' Fakes Handed Out
2
New Google Engine Predicts Future Searches
gDay MATE (HOAX)
1
Giant Public Turkey Stuffing
The 55 Ft Bird Basting Hoax
Related Ideas
Comedic Horror Cosmetics
The NYX x Beetlejuice Collab Shares Bold Colors for Fantastical Looks
Unexpectedly-Amusing Treats
Liquid Death's 'Misfortune Cookies' are a Parody
Halloween-Ready Animatronic Line-Ups
HalloweenCostumes.com Debuted Its 2024 Halloween Animatronics
Giant Balloon Installations
A Kim Kardashian Balloon Takes Over Times Square for Skims Swim Launch
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Halloween-Inspired Pretzel Campaigns
Snyder’s of Hanover Debuts the 'Pretzelface' Campaign
Ingenious De-Influencing Ads
Cuyana's De-Influencing April Fool's Campaign Highlights Greenwashing
Truth-Forward Beauty Campaigns
The Ordinary X Uncommon Unveil the Beauty Industry’s Biggest Myths
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
Valentine's-Inspired Sneakers
Nike's Valentine's Day 2025 Sneakers are a Bold Break-Up Statement
Thematic Super-Villain-Inspired Makeup Campaigns
NYX Launches the 'Who Stole Halloween?' Campaign
Snackable Summer Drone Deliveries
Hostess Joy Drops Shares Packages of Fun via Drone
Garlic-Scented Bath Bombs
Papa Johns Created a Garlic Bath Bomb for Fans of Its Special Sauce
Randomness-Inspired Designer Footwear Lines
HVÓYA's Beauty in Chaos Capsule is Unique and Chic
Influencer-Inspired Ads
Tomcat's Ad Shows an Influencer Mouse with a Fatal Unboxing Twist
Demonic Parenting Apps
The 'Oni kara Denwa' App from Media Active Scolds Children
Immersive Horror Games
Eyes Never Wake's Monster Sees Players Through Their Webcam
Next-Gen News Apps
Shades is a News and Culture App for Gen Z and Gen Alpha
Whisky-Filled Stockings
Fireball's Slappable Whisky Stocking Helps to Alleviate Holiday Stress
Digital Creator Revenue Shifts
Newsletter Platform Beehiiv Lets Readers Set Their Own Price
Vibrantly Comedic Travel Campaigns
The 'Booking.yeah' Campaign Features The Muppets
Viral Video Content Toys
Bonkers Toys Received Licensing for 'Skibidi Toilet' Toy Lineup
Horror Media Creation Games
In 'Content Warning,' Players Aim to Create Viral Horror Videos
Fan-Inspired Mini-Films
Battle For Heinz is a 20-Second Blockbuster Based on a Fan Tweet
Do-Good Metaverse Campaigns
Comic Relief US and Nickelodeon Empower Kids in Roblox and Beyond
Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads
Surreal's Out-of-Home Campaign Speaks to Marketers, Not Consumers
Globalized Spooky Destinations
Intrepid Travel Presents a Curated Selection of Spooky Adventures
Bouncy Plush Collectibles
Beanie Bouncers Support Active Play and Endless Imagination
Sickness Survival Kits
The Halls Man Cold Relief Kit Helps Sufferers Get Through Cold & Flu Season
Frightful Bodycare Collections
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice x Lush Shares Spooky Sensorial Care Staples
Educational Valentine's Campaigns
No More’s 'Language of Love' Campaign Exposes Coercive Control
Colorfully Inflatable Art Installations
This Year's BlowUp Art The Hague Marks its Third
Deflated Balloon Clothing Hangers
Chong Shop Has Revamped the Iconic Clothes Hanger Using Waste
Distracted Driving Awareness Videos
Project Yellow Light's 'Love Story' Is a Wake-Up Call
Spoof Sparkling Water Cans
Liquid Death's Can of Art Pokes Fun at a Controversial Work of Art
Gun Violence Prevention Films
Sandy Hook Promise Turns a Childhood Symbol Into a Call for Action
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
AR Glow-in-the-Dark Wines
19 Crimes and Universal Products & Experiences Debuted a Halloween Wine
Fun-Centered Social Platforms
BuzzFeed Island Makes Internet Experiences Joyful & Quirky Again
Valentine’s Day Loungewear
Boys Lie x PopUp Bagels Team Up for the 'Schmear Campaign'
Viral Video Databases
Viral Ideas Offers Inspiration for a Content Creator's Next Big Video
Viral Criminal Merchandise
'I Can Fix Him' T-Shirt Design Goes Viral on Social Media
Drug-Themed April Fool's Gags
Innocean Berlin's Glory Over Pain Corporation Campaign is Satirical
Satirical Political Campaigns
The Thoughts & Prayers Toilet Paper Campaign Calls Out Inaction
Bean-Filled Chocolate Eggs
UKSnackAttack Shares Imaginative "Snackfishing" Content on Instagram
Body-Positive Brand Campaigns
Dove's Super Bowl Ad Challenges Toxic Body Talk in Sports
Comedic Christmas Parodies
'Reinfell' Ad Brings Rudolph’s Downfall to Life in Hilarious Spoof
Anti-Doomscrolling Robots
NABS & Amplify Created the DoomScroller for World Mental Health Day
Spooky Treat-Inspired Calendars
Ferrero Unveils its 31 Days of Halloween Countdown Calendar
Chocolate Spread Hot Air Balloons
Nutella Hosts an Immersive Hot Air Balloon Experience in Canada
Surreal Dark Comedy Toys
Moose Toys Created a Line for YouTube-Viral Amazing Digital Circus
Spooky-Fun Fast Food Meals
HalloWEENDY's Kicked Off with New Frosty Frights Kids' Meals & Toys
Paranormal Cartoon Apparel
JOURNAL STANDARD and Ghostbusters Release a Vintage Apparel Capsule
Fraud-Fighting Elderly AIs
O2 Developed an "AI Granny" to Waste Scammers' Time
Interactive Influencer Features
YouTube's New 'Hype' Feature Allows Viewers to Share in Success
Eerie Film-Inspired Apps
The 'Welcome To The Afterlife Generator' Transforms Selfies
Spooky Film-Celebrating Cases
Velvet Caviar Releases its Beetlejuice Tech Collaboration
Business Founder Newsletters
The Solo Founder Newsletter Compiles the Top News and Inspiration
Suicide Awareness Films
Heirlooms Short Film Shines Light on Suicide Bereavement and Hidden Grief
Purposefully Annoying Digital Bots
Annoy.Bot Will Flood Inboxes with Email Subscriptions
Temporary Email Address Generators
Raccoon Generates Temporary Addresses to Protect Online Privacy
Anti-AI-Generate Dating Profiles
Bumble Introduces New Tool to Report AI-Generated Profiles
Viral Face Generators
CrazyFace Generates Fun, Viral YouTube Faces from a User's Photos
Artful Illusory Ads
giffgaff's Large-Scale Illusion Artwork Challenges Inattentional Blindness
Life Lesson Animated Cartoons
Gary Vaynerchuk Launches the VeeFriends Cartoon Series
Recycling Advocate Holograms
HypnoCat is Promoting the Great Cable Challenge in Waterloo Station
Humorous Educational Campaigns
AI Investment Fraud Takes Center Stage in a New Awareness Campaign
Rental App Holiday Campaigns
Airbnb Presents its Santastrophe Campaign Following Santa Claus
Gift-Wrapping Cheese Pop-Ups
The Babybelves Holiday Village Provides Festive Snack Breaks
Good-Natured Mischief Toys
Slumberkins' Vlad & Frank Midnight Mischief Set Teaches Responsibility
Reimagined Holiday Spots
NBA's Jingle Hoops Returns with a Holiday Spot Featuring Action Figures
Empowering Apparel Collections
The Boys Lie February '25 Drop is Redefining Cozy Streetwear
Income-Centric Animated Comedies
Universal Basic Guys Follows Two Characters Earning 3k Monthly
Chinese Youth Search Reports
Xiaohongshu Has Released Report on Search Habits Among Youth in China
Hygienic Hippo Campaigns
In Confessions of Moo Deng, a Viral Baby Hippo Teaches Handwashing
Allergy-Friendly Retailer Campaigns
FARE and CVS Pharmacy Partnered for the Teal Pumpkin Project
Influencer-Starring Car Commercials
Toyota's New Short Film Seeks to Resonate with Gen Z Customers
Commemorative Skateboarding Decks
DGK Pays Tribute to the Late Harold Hunter with a Special Debut
Unknown Birthday Campaigns
Grey Bangladesh & Tasty Treat Address a Significant Issue in Bangladesh
Online Exploitation Education Courses
Childhelp and Meta Launch a Free Educational Curriculum
Horror Movie-Inspired Popcorn Buckets
Nosferatu Film Presents the Dynamic Popcorn Coffin Bucket
Tech Job Aggregator Tools
Career Hound Aggregates High-Paying Tech Jobs from Various Sources
Randomized Internet Pages
Project Random Shuffles the Internet to Retrieve Blog Posts and Pages
Stigma-Addressing Diabetes Shorts
Abbott Has Released a New Short Film — Above the Bias
Gender-Based Violence Awareness Films
My Friend Max Hate Exposes the Dark Side of Online Influence
AI-Driven Video Creation
Viralshort Creates TikTok & YouTube Shorts in Seconds Using AI
Gruesome Horror Film Soaps
The Terrifier Blood & Bubbles Soap is Officially Licensed
Scam Awareness Advent Calendars
NatWest's Scamvent Calendar Exposes Common Seasonal Scams
Newsletter Monetization Tools
Beehiiv Ad Network Monetize Newsletters by Connecting Premium Brands
Charming Creepy Collectibles
Deddy Bears Unbox from Coffins with Autopsy Reports
Tween-Targeted Weekly News Shows
Kelsey Russell is the Newest Co-Host of First Stop News
Authentic Asian-American Dolls
The Jilly Doll Celebrates Heritage & Builds Confidence Through Play
AI Social Media Generators
Snowball FATG Can Help Create Viral Social Moments in Seconds
Uncharted Web Journeys
'Visit a Random Website' Sends You to Unexpected Corners of the Internet
AI Hug Videos
AI Hug Video Generator Creates Personalized Hug Videos from Photos.
Redirected Movement Campaigns
Asics' 15MinuteWeightLoss Challenges Rapid Weight Loss Content
Statement Short Films
'The Trial' by Gandja Monteiro Exposes Realities of Abortion Bans
Festive Sweater Vests
Numskull Launched Novelty Fandom-Specific Sweater Vests
Chilling Domestic Abuse Campaigns
BBDO Bangkok's Second Chance Campaign Taps Gigi Supitcha
Disaster Relief-Supporting Pr Initiatives
Publicity for Good Supports Hurricane Helene Relief
Job-Themed Obstacle Courses
Mike's Jobstacle Course Challenges People to Experience "Easy" Work
Selfie Trampoline Pop-Ups
Benefit's Club Bounce Shares an Immersive Sports-Inspired Experience
Seasonal Halloween Lifestyle Products
Bath & Body Works is Debuting its Halloween Collection Early
Child Abuse-Preventing Campaigns
Prevent Child Abuse America Launches an Important Initiative
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Newsletter Management Tools
Hotsuto Organizes Newsletters in a Clutter-Free Blog-Like Interface
Car Safety-Promoting PSAs
The Ad Council and NHTSA Have Launched a New Never Happens Campaign
Daily Scary Stories
'Scare Me' Offers Fresh, Thrilling Stories Daily To Reignite Reading
Human-Penned AI Newsletters
The 'Not A Bot' Newsletter Explores AI from a Human Perspective
Lead Protection Tools
Spider Labs Has Introduced Fake Lead Protection
Cultural Social Media Documentaries
Hulu Unveils the Black Lives Matter: A People's History Doc
Newsletter-Finding Tools
Best Newsletters Helps Users Find Their Next Favorite Read
Debunking AI Apps
BSBot Helps Publicis Clients Tell the Truth About AI from Fiction at Cannes
Mosquito Safety Campaigns
Mosquito Joe Launches the Beat the Bloodsuckers Campaign
Travel Scam Awareness
'No Scam' Helps Recognize and Prevent Common Travel Scams
Anonymous Letter Sending
Letters is a Charming Tool Allowing People to Send Letters in Secret
Failed Digital Product Databases
Dead Product Marketplace is a Graveyard for Abandoned Projects
April Fool's Lifestyle Collections
Nugget Introduced Its 'Most Trendiest - High Endiest' Line Yet
Blog Post Generators
Hubrank Helps Create Posts for Niche Topics with an Emphasis on Strong SEO
Personalized Newsletter Briefings
Digest Aggregates News from Social Sites to Create Daily Updates
Humorous Losers-Focused Campaigns
Miller Lite Introduces the League Losers Billboards
Social Celebration Trackers
Hurrayy Helps Track Birthdays and Stay Connected with Reminders
Love-Centric Public Service Announcements
Ad Council & R/GA Debut the Love Has No Labels Campaign
Digital Community-Branded Product Lines
The Girl Math Gang Debuts New Product Offerings
Kid-Friendly Joke Platforms
Knock Knock Jokes For Kids is a Safe Space for Children to Laugh
Audio Newsletters
beehiiv's Audio Newsletters Enhances the Digestibility of Email Content
Anonymous Venting Platforms
sayHey Offers an Online Space to Release One's Problems
Novelty Polling Websites
Funnypoll Gives Users a Quick Laugh in an Often Overwhelming Online Space
Daily Fun Facts
Curiosity of the Day Offers Bite-Sized Insights to Spark Interest
Hacker News Insights
Hacker Search Bridges the Gap Between Anecdotal Evidence and Expert Knowledge
Non-Fiction Summaries Tools
With Honkist, Users Can Grasp Key Ideas with Non-Fiction Summaries
Monster-Detailed Custom Meal Boxes
McDonald's Brings Back the Boo Buckets for Halloween
Blood Center Campaigns
Markham Yard Releases the Blood Center Campaign to Inspire Donations
Digital Scam Detection Tools
Google is Rolling Out New Tools to Keep Users Safe From Scams
Bite-Sized Podcast Biographies
NerdSnipes Has an Endless List of Short Biography Podcasts
Efficient Fact Generators
Facts Generator Can Produce Interesting Facts About Any Subject
Personalized Bedtime Story Generators
Bumble Stories Creates Bedtime Stories Featuring Your Child
Educational Linguistic Newsletters
The 'Why Is That Called That' Newsletter Delves into Language
Simple Joke Platforms
Gigglet is a Simple Webste that Tells 10 "Dad Jokes" a Day
Iconic Blimp Anniversaries
The Goodyear Blimp Will Celebrate 100 years with 2025 Multi-City Tour