Maybe not now, in the light of recent official fiction, but back in ELITE that was all they ever did.
But yeah, hoax.
havnt played the past elites, i only know some timelines and stuff, and there they say that WE attacked them, while they tried to communicate with us.
Also i slightly remember that i think David once said, that our reacton at the first contact determines how the Thargoid relationship will be. So if we attack them, we will be at war again, and if we react peacefull...who knows?