sent on a false goose chase

A friend was accidentally given some incorrect information for something he was trying to look up. This caused him to waste time researching in the wrong direction. When he realized he had been given the wrong info, he commented that he was sent on a “false goose chase”. This is a mashup of “wild goose chase” (a hopeless pursuit of something unattainable) and I think, because of the failure to secure the correct information, “false start” (an unsuccessful attempt to begin something). “False flag” (a political or military act done in such a way to appear it was carried out by a party that was actually not responsible) and “false alarm” (unnecessary or unfounded warning) might also be in the mix. A big thank you to Verbatim for hearing this one and sending it in.