The Tom Collins hoax of 1874 was a popular practical joke where people would ask others, "Have you seen Tom Collins?" After the listener denied knowing him, they were told that "Tom Collins" had been talking about them nearby, causing many to go in search of this fictitious person. The hoax was widely spread through newspapers and even inspired songs. The prank played on people's fears of being talked about, leading to widespread, humorous confusion in people in New York; Pennsylvania; and elsewhere in the United States.
One of the theories is that inspired by the prank, New York mixologist Jerry Thomas created the recipe.