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


[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
226
S903: The Business of Cults part 1
38 min
227
S902: Cons, Scams, and Flim-flams
41 min
228
S901: The KGB Agent
43 min
229
S811: The Truth About Santa
22 min
230
S810: The Hypnotist part 4 - Alien Abductions a...
38 min
231
S809: The Hypnotist part 3 - Is hypnosis admiss...
48 min
232
S808: The Hypnotist part 2
36 min
233
S807: The Hypnotist part 1
50 min
234
S806: The Real Vampires
37 min
235
Bonus: Michael plays air guitar
19 min
236
S805: The King of Lies
32 min
237
S804: The Ransomware Negotiator
35 min
238
S803: The Sovereign Man
33 min
239
S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon
48 min
240
S801: The Sovereign Citizen
40 min
241
Birth of a Con Man (Revisited)
44 min
242
The Hijacker (Revisited)
68 min
243
PRETEND turns 4
27 min
244
S710: The Sham vol. 1
32 min
245
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min
246
S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct)
40 min
247
S707: The Lie Detector part 2
47 min
248
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
249
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
250
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min