Deception is an act or statement that misleads, hides the truth, or promotes a belief, concept, or idea that is not true. This occurs when a deceiver uses information against a person to make them believe an idea is true. Deception can be used with both verbal and nonverbal messages. The person creating the deception knows it to be false while the receiver of the message has a tendency to believe it. It is often done for personal gain or advantage. Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda and sleight of hand as well as distraction, camouflage or concealment. There is also self-deception, as in bad faith. It can also be called, with varying subjective implications, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, ruse, or subterfuge.

छल या धोखा एक व्यक्ति या संगठन द्वारा जानबूझ कर किसी अन्य व्यक्ति में किसी ऐसे विश्वास को जन्म देने या प्रोत्साहित करने को कहते हैं जो सच न हो। ध्यान दें कि स्वयं को भी छला जा सकता है। कई प्रकार के छल न्याय व्यवस्थाओं में अपराध माने जाते है जबकि बहुत से अन्य छल भिन्न समाजों में अनौचित्य की परिभाषा में आते हैं।