According to wikipedia.org
Hoax is …
A hoax is an attempt to trick an audience into believing that something false is real.
What the different …
.. it is possible to perpetrate a hoax by making only true statements using unfamiliar wording or context (see DHMO). Unlike a fraud or con (which is usually aimed at a single victim and are made for illicit financial or material gain), a hoax is often perpetrated as a practical joke, to cause embarrassment, or to provoke social change by making people aware of something.
Motivation …
Many hoaxes are motivated by a desire to satirize or educate by exposing the credulity of the public and the media or the absurdity of the target.
Medium …
- Email
- Web
- Social Network
Example …
CropCircle
And now ..
impostors had been advanced to fools their victims, and fortunately web 2.0 and social network trends help them to improve their method to spread the “joke”. The effective way to make a hoax is make something visually true. For example an AAA battery could power up 21″ TV[1], or Union and Gatorade could recharge your iPod[2]. As you can see, they talking seriously to get your attention (and trust), nothing seems a joke right ?
How to prevent …
Be a smart ass dude ! Filled up our head with knowledge …
[1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rA-zhTJuFU
[2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfPJeDssBOM
