History Main / FakinMacGuffin

* In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'', there is a struggle over a case containing a relic that multiple parties are interested in. At the end, the Numbers seem to make off with it, to shock from all sides. Then, after they've left... Teana and Subaru reveal that, actually, they took the relic out of the case and hid it in Caro's hat -- all the Numbers have is an empty case.

* ''Film/{{Filibus}}'': Inspector Hardy attempts to trick the ClassyCatBurglar SkyPirate Filibus with a false jewel (with a hidden camera, to boot; see "Somebody Set Up Us the Bomb" below). It works [[spoiler:exactly the opposite way he expects]].

* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Sonic tries to slip Eggman a fake Chaos Emerald Tails made, but Eggman is able to detect the two separate emeralds with a scanner, and bluffs Tails into blowing the secret. The fake has "the same wavelength and properties" as a real Chaos Emerald, but is "less powerful". Sonic later uses the fake to perform a Chaos Control. This works, even though it's not a real Emerald.

-->-- '''[[GiantEnemyCrab Tamatoa]]''', ''Disney/{{Moana}}''

* In ''Disney/{{Moana}}'', Moana uses a barnacle and bioluminescent algae to create a fake Heart of Te Fiti, which she gives to Tamatoa to distract him long enough for her and Maui to escape.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' episode "Fallen Hero", Sinestro holds Richie hostage and demands Static hand over Green Lantern's Power Ring, which he had recently acquired. Static hands him a ring and then he and Richie run when Sinestro releases him. Sinestro then opens his hand and exclaims, "Captain Dwayne's Decoder Ring!?"

* In ''Disney/{{Moana}}'', Moana uses a barnacle and bioluminescent algae to create a fake Heart of Te Fiti, which she gives to Tamatoa to distract him long enough for her and Maui to escape. Tamatoa's line once he realizes he's been had is our current page quote.

[[folder: Fan Fics]]
* In ''FanFic/FallenKing'', Pegasus's guards are trying to take the Millennium Puzzle from Yugi and the gang. Joey bluffs them by throwing a piece of stone off the tower and pretending it's the Millennium Puzzle.

* In ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'', the Crystal Star in Poshley Heights is displayed in plain sight and is the only one like that. Beldam and her sisters, who had spent the previous three days trailing Mario, nab it before Mario can get to it. It turns out this one is a fake; Inspector Pennington, who runs the display, actually let them take it to get them away from there, then leads Mario to the real one.

* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', Sonic tries to slip Eggman a fake Chaos Emerald, but Eggman is able to detect the two separate emeralds with a scanner, and bluffs Tails into blowing the secret. The fake has "the same wavelength and properties" as a real Chaos Emerald, but is "less powerful". Sonic later uses the fake to perform a Chaos Control. This works, even though it's not a real Emerald.

* One of the eggs in VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheAzranLegacy is mysteriously swapped out when it is time to use them. Naturally, the antagonists took it and use it to lure the heroes to their Nest.

[[folder:WebComics]]

* ''Litearure/NickVelvet'': In "The Theft of the Crystal Crown", Nick deduces that the glass crown he has stolen is a fake when he realizes that he was hired to steal the crown as a publicity stunt and his employer would never endanger the real crown that way.

Not to be confused with MockGuffin, when it turns out in the end that the MacGuffin everybody has been chasing is a fake, and there is no "real" [=MacGuffin=]. For when the fake MacGuffin also turns out to be a booby trap, see SomebodySetUpUsTheBomb. This can be used to set up a NeedleInAStackOfNeedles situation when the real MacGuffin is hidden among a bunch of fakes, or when you need to transport the real item somewhere and the fakes are put in multiple {{Decoy Convoy}}s.

Not to be confused with MockGuffin, when it turns out in the end that the MacGuffin everybody has been chasing is a fake, and there is no "real" [=MacGuffin=]. For when the fake MacGuffin also turns out to be a booby trap, see SomebodySetUsUpTheBomb. This can be used to set up a NeedleInAStackOfNeedles situation when the real MacGuffin is hidden among a bunch of fakes, or when you need to transport the real item somewhere and the fakes are put in multiple {{Decoy Convoy}}s.

* ''Film/{{Ronin}}'' has the protagonists attempting to steal a silver briefcase. The first time they try to steal it, it turns out to be a decoy with a bomb inside, as one of their team has swapped out the real one. Their leader only realises JustInTime when fresh silver paint comes off on his hand.

* ''Film/WhatsTheWorstThatCouldHappen'': At the end of the film, Kevin and Max are on a boat fighting over possession of the 'lucky ring', when they both look at the ring (which is on Kevin's finger) and realise it is not the original ring, and that someone has substituted a fake earlier in the caper.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic:'' In [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E5MagicDuel "Magic Duel"]], Trixie acquires the Alicorn Amulet, a [[ArtifactOfDoom corrupting]] AmplifierArtifact [[ClingyMacGuffin that can't be removed by anyone but the wearer]]. To get Amulet away from her, Twilight shows up wearing a green stone that she claims is an even more powerful amulet, and she backs up the claim with some impressive feats of magic. Sure enough, Trixie relinquishes the Alicorn Amulet and steals the green amulet. Then Twilight reveals it's just an ordinary stone--a doorstop, in fact--and those feats of magic were just smoke and mirrors.

Not to be confused with MockGuffin, when it turns out in the end that the MacGuffin everybody has been chasing is a fake, and there is no "real" [=MacGuffin=]. For when the fake MacGuffin also turns out to be a booby trap, see SomebodySetUsUpTheBomb.

* In ''Disney/{{Moana}}'', Moana uses a barnacle and bioluminescent algae to create a fake Heart of Te Fiti, which she gives to Tamatoa to distract him long enough to escape.

* ''The Bullion Boys'' (1993) when Creator/DavidJason's character swaps a fake gold bar for a real one, which is the only bar they end up keeping. However there's [[IdiotPlot no reason for this fake bar to exist in the first place]]; it's just shown to the characters as an example of what the gold bars they're planning to steal will look like.

* ''The Bullion Boys'' (1993) when DavidJason's character swops a fake gold bar for a real one, which is the only bar they end up keeping. However there's [[IdiotPlot no reason for this fake bar to exist in the first place]]; it's just shown to the characters as an example of what the gold bars they're planning to steal will look like.

* ''Film/{{Ronin}}'' has the protagonists attempting to steal a silver briefcase. The first time they try to steal it, it turns out to be a decoy with a bomb inside.