PRETEND

PRETEND is an investigative true crime podcast about real people who lie for a living — con artists, scammers, and the victims caught in their web.

Hosted by journalist Javier Leiva, PRETEND exposes the human psychology behind deception and fraud. Each episode follows a real case of manipulation — from financial scams and Ponzi schemes to digital hoaxes and emotional cons


PRETEND explains how and why deception works without shaming victims, combining ethical journalism with cinematic storytelling.


Featured in lists of the best podcasts about con artists and scams, PRETEND investigates crimes of persuasion, trust, and betrayal. New episodes drop regularly with stories that reveal how manipulation shapes modern life, both online and off.


PRETEND is produced by Creative Babble, LLC.


© 2026 Creative Babble LLC


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True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
226
S801: The Sovereign Citizen
40 min
227
Birth of a Con Man (Revisited)
44 min
228
The Hijacker (Revisited)
68 min
229
PRETEND turns 4
27 min
230
S710: The Sham vol. 1
32 min
231
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min
232
S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct)
40 min
233
S707: The Lie Detector part 2
47 min
234
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
235
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
236
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min
237
S703: The Pharmacist
39 min
238
S702: The Pill Mill
41 min
239
S701: The Real Donnie Brasco
52 min
240
S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast)
42 min
241
S610: The Party Crasher
38 min
242
S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4
44 min
243
S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3
58 min
244
S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2
45 min
245
S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1
38 min
246
S605: The Inheritance
48 min
247
S604: How to disappear part 4
51 min
248
S603: How to disappear part 3
59 min
249
S602: How to disappear part 2
42 min
250
S601: How to disappear part 1
38 min