A medicine or health product marketed as curing just about everything but doesn't actually do anything, sold to people who don't know any better. Examples are colloidal silver (when taken internally), Mannatech products such as Ambrotose, magnetic bed underlays, etc. The term comes from 19th century travelling salesmen in America.

Products or services sold by dealerships that can be added on to the vehicle. Some examples include rust-proofing, upholstery treatments, alarm systems, and extended warranties. Remember that these add-ons will increase the price of the vehicle, and your monthly payment. Also these items are normally marked up outrageously. Also referred to as snake oil by dealers,because it bites you.

Exaggerated, unsupported, claims of all kinds wonders, described in detail in a separate FAQ. Frequently occurring in describing cryptographic products as revolutionary and unbreakable etc. Steganography - The art of information hiding. Not encryption as such, but rather hiding. Often combined with encryption. Typically one stores data in low order bits in pictures or sounds.

communication (writen or spoken) intended to deceive

A negative term used normally by an individual to discredit another. Refers to selling or promoting something that falsely claims inflated results or expectations. (A favorite term of the American Collectors Association, a trade group representing debt collectors across the U.S.)