That's something people who care about you should respect. But you should tell them, so they know. You should probably avoid hanging out with people who have that kind of sense of humor.

We had a friend who was a comedian. He played a practical joke on my mother. He just couldn't resist setting her up because she is so dramatic and excitable. Luckily she saw the humor in it and took it like a champ. Yes, it's lying and playing on someone's emotions.