Alan Abel

Alan Abel (June 2, 1924 – December 14, 2018) was an American hoaxer, writer, and media prankster. He was best known for creating elaborate and believable hoaxes that often satirized aspects of American society and challenged the credulity of the media.

Some of Abel's more notable hoaxes included the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals (SINA), a fictitious organization dedicated to clothing animals; Citizens to Tax Loud Music (CTLM), aimed at reducing noise pollution through taxation; and the claim that he would run for president as a "party crasher," promising to crash every party he could.

Abel's hoaxes often involved meticulous planning and the creation of supporting documents and fake organizations to lend them credibility. He frequently targeted newspapers, television stations, and radio programs, often successfully fooling them into reporting on his fabricated stories.

He was the subject of a documentary film, "Is This a Joke?" released in 2013, which chronicled his life and work. Throughout his career, Abel maintained that his hoaxes were intended to provoke thought and expose the willingness of the media to accept and disseminate information without proper verification. While sometimes controversial, his work is viewed by some as a form of social commentary and performance art. He authored several books, including "How to Thrive on Rejection," "The Great American Hoax," and "Confessions of a Hoaxer."