Deceptive trick (4)

I think it could be either:

hoax

ruse

'deceptive trick' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

This is all the clue.

(Other definitions for hoax that I've seen before include "Fool" , "Prank" , "Imposture" , "Fake, such as Piltdown Man" , "Deliberate trickery" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times and The Times.

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