Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black) a lie.

1923		C. Greer-Petrie Angeline Doin’ Society 2: If he had told a false, Lum wanted to be able to tell [...] about hit when he got home [DARE].
1927		R.E. Kennedy Gritny People 20: I ain’ tellin’ no false [DARE].
c.1938		H.M. Hyatt Hoodoo (1970) 1 12: Dey’ll go, prob’ly uptown an’ tell a false’ on me an’ have me put in jail [DARE].