n. 1 deception, fraud, swindle, trick, flam or flimflam, imposture, cheat, humbug, Slang con (game), gyp, scam, game, US snow job They perpetrated a hoax on you, and I am afraid there is no way of getting your money back
v. 2 deceive, defraud, swindle, trick, fool, dupe, take in, cozen, hoodwink, gull, bluff, Slang con, gyp, bamboozle She was hoaxed into investing in Sicilian gold-mines