As an adult, I’ve come to realize that April Fool’s Day isn’t just for kids. In fact, it can be a lot of fun to play pranks on people even when you’re all grown up.
And what could be more fun than playing long distance April Fools’ pranks on your boyfriend, girlfriend, friends or family? For those of you who are looking for some great long-distance April Fool’s Day pranks, here are some of my favorites.
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1. Call your friend and pretend to be a debt collector
You can have a lot of fun with this prank by changing your voice and being really convincing. Just make sure you don’t actually say anything that could get your friend in trouble.
For example, you could say something like, “We’ve been trying to reach you for weeks about your outstanding debt. If you don’t make a payment by the end of the day, we’ll be forced to take legal action.”
2. Send your friend an email with a fake virus attached to it
This is a classic prank that you can easily do by finding a fake virus online and sending it to your friend in an email.
Make sure to include a message telling them to be careful – it might even be funnier if you pretend to be panicked yourself.
I’ve been trying this prank on my friends for years, and it never gets old.
3. Give your friend a call and pretend to be the wrong number
This one is pretty self-explanatory – just call your friend and pretend you have the wrong number. You can keep it short and sweet, or you can really run with it and have a long, bizarre conversation. It’s up to you.
4. Send your friend a package filled with packing peanuts
This is a great prank if you can’t think of anything else to do. Just buy a bunch of packing peanuts and send them to your friend in a box. They’ll be so confused when they open it up.
You could even include a note that says something like, “I’m sorry, I must have the wrong address. I was trying to send this to my friend, but I guess I messed up.”
5. Make a fake social media profile and friend your friend
This is a great way to really mess with your friends. Create a fake social media profile – complete with a fake name, fake photos, and a fake bio – and friend your friend on it.
Then start posting things that will make them think you’re totally crazy. For example, you could post statuses using made-up words or post photos of yourself doing weird things.
6. Create a fake online dating profile for your friend and see who bites
When I was single, I used to do this all the time to my friends. I would create a fake online dating profile for them, using their photos and information, and then see who would try to message them. It’s always hilarious to see who falls for it – you might be surprised.
7. Purchase a domain name that is similar to your friend’s name and send them an email from it
This is a great prank if you want to really confuse your friend. Purchase a domain name that is similar to your friend’s name (for example, if their name is John Smith, you could purchase the domain name johnsmith.com) and then send them an email from it.
You can say whatever you want in the email – just make sure it’s something that will really throw them off.
8. Convince your friend that they’ve won a free trip… to North Korea
A perfect prank if you want to really freak your friend out. Just call them up and tell them that they’ve won a free trip… to North Korea.
You can even pretend to be an official from the North Korean government and give them all the details about their “trip.” They’ll be so confused – and maybe even a little scared.
9. Change your friend’s voicemail message to something ridiculous
If you have access to your friend’s voicemail, then this is a great prank to play on them. Just change their voicemail message to something totally ridiculous, like a song or a silly joke. They’ll be so surprised when they try to check their voicemail and hear your funny message.
10. “Accidentally” send your friend a text meant for someone else
Prank to play if you want to make your friend think you’re totally crazy. Just “accidentally” send them a text meant for someone else – something that’s really random or bizarre.
They’ll be so confused and maybe even a little freaked out. Like I sent to one of my friends: “Hey, let’s try this someday. It’ll be so much fun. Just don’t tell anyone, k?”
11. Make a fake Facebook event and invite your friend to it
You can create a fake Facebook event for anything – a party, a concert, you name it. Just make sure to invite your friend to it. They’ll be so confused when they see the event and even more confused when they realize it’s not real.
12. Pretend to be a psychic and “predict” something crazy that’s going to happen to your friend
I once had a friend who pretended to be a psychic, and she would “predict” all sorts of crazy things that were going to happen to me. It was always so funny to see her “predictions,” and it would really freak me out.
13. Convince your friend that they’re being audited by the IRS
You can even pretend to be an official from the IRS and give them all the details about the “audit.” They’ll be so worried, and you’ll get a good laugh out of it.
When I was younger, my mom used to do this to me all the time, and it would drive me crazy.
14. “Accidentally” send your friend a picture of you in a compromising situation
Put yourself in a compromising situation – like, in your underwear or something – and then “accidentally” send your friend a picture of it.
They’ll be so surprised and maybe even a little grossed out. And pretend like it was an accident, of course.
15. Pretend to be someone else and text your friend
I used to have a friend who would always prank me on April Fool’s Day. She would send me a text message pretending to be someone else.
It would usually be something like, “Hey, I’m your new neighbor. I just moved in next door and wanted to introduce myself.” Or she would pretend to be a friend from school and say something like, “Hey, I’m in town for the weekend and wanted to know if you want to hang out?”.
It would always catch me off guard, and I would usually reply with something like, “Who is this?”.
16. Start a fake rumor
You can do this by text message, social media, email, or even over the phone. For example, you could text your friend and say, “I heard that so-and-so is getting a divorce.”
Or you could post on social media that “I can’t believe so-and-so is pregnant.” Just make sure you don’t start any rumors that could actually hurt someone’s feelings.
17. Send your friends a package filled with things they’re deathly afraid of (e.g., snakes, spiders, clowns)
When I was a kid, my aunt used to send my cousins and I packages filled with our favorite things. One year, she sent my brother a package filled with snakes.
Needless to say, he was not pleased. If you want to prank your friends from afar, why not send them a package filled with their worst fears?
18. Pretend to be a news anchor and announce some outrageous news
If you have friends or family members who are easily fooled, this is a prank for you. Simply record yourself pretending to be a news anchor and make up some outrageous news.
Be sure to deliver the fake news with a straight face and watch as your loved ones react in disbelief.
19. Tell your friend that you’ve been kidnapped and that you need ransom money
This is a prank that is best played on someone who knows you well. You’ll need to come up with a believable story about why you’ve been kidnapped and how much money your kidnappers are demanding for your release.
Once you have your story straight, give your friend a call and act like you’re in distress. Be sure to keep the prank going for as long as you can before revealing that it was all just a joke.
20. Convince your friend that their house is haunted
If your friend is prone to being scared easily, this is the perfect prank to play on them. You’ll need to come up with a convincing story about how their house is haunted and then share it with them.
Be sure to act scared and concerned yourself, as this will make the prank even more believable. You can even add in some fake ghost sounds for extra effect.
21. Convince your friend that you’re pregnant
You’ll need to come up with a believable story about how you got pregnant and then share it with your friend.
Be sure to act excited and happy about the news, as this will make the prank even more believable. You can even add in some fake pregnancy symptoms for extra effect.
22. Convince your friend that they’ve won the lottery
You’ll need to come up with a convincing story about how your friend has won the lottery and then share it with them.
Be sure to act excited and happy about the news, as this will make the prank even more believable. You can even add in some fake lottery tickets for extra effect.
23. Convince your friend that they’ve been drafted into the military
Try sending them a “notice” of their impending service, complete with information on where to report and what to bring.
You can even include a fake website for extra authenticity.
24. Create a fake online dating profile
If you have a friend who’s looking for love online, why not play matchmaker… and mess with their head a little bit?
Create a fake profile on a popular dating site and watch as your friend gets hit with messages from “admirers” who are really just you in disguise.
FAQs
How can I make my long-distance prank even better?
There are a few things you can do to make your long-distance prank even better. First, try to make your story as believable as possible.
The more believable your story is, the better the prank will be. Second, try to add in some fake evidence to support your story. This could be anything from fake photos to fake documents.
Finally, try to keep a straight face when you’re delivering the prank. The more convincing you are, the better the prank will be.
Can I get in trouble for playing a long distance April Fools’ prank?
It’s possible that you could get in trouble for playing a long-distance prank, depending on the nature of the prank and how it’s received by the person you’re playing it on.
If you’re unsure about whether or not your prank could get you in trouble, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and avoid playing it.
Can I play a long-distance prank on my parents?
You can play a long-distance prank on your parents, but you should be prepared for them not to find it as funny as you do.
If you’re unsure about whether or not they’ll find it funny, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and avoid playing it.
How do I know if my long-distance prank will work?
Pranks are best played on people you know well. For some of the more serious pranks featured here, think long and hard about the person you’re playing it on, and whether it may cause them real distress to be on the receiving end of a more serious prank.
If you’re unsure about whether or not they’ll find it funny, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and avoid playing it.
Should I apologize after playing a April Fools’ long distance prank?
It’s not always necessary to apologize after playing a long-distance prank, but it might be a good idea depending on the nature of the prank and how it’s received by the person you’re playing it on.
If you’re unsure about whether or not an apology is warranted, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and apologize anyway.
When is the best time to play a long distance prank?
The best time to play a long-distance prank is when you know the person you’re playing it on will be available to talk. This way, you can keep the prank going for as long as possible.
Try to avoid playing the prank when the person is busy or distracted, as they might not be able to fully enjoy it.
