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
251
S703: The Pharmacist
39 min
252
S702: The Pill Mill
41 min
253
S701: The Real Donnie Brasco
52 min
254
S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast)
42 min
255
S610: The Party Crasher
38 min
256
S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4
44 min
257
S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3
58 min
258
S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2
45 min
259
S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1
38 min
260
S605: The Inheritance
48 min
261
S604: How to disappear part 4
51 min
262
S603: How to disappear part 3
59 min
263
S602: How to disappear part 2
42 min
264
S601: How to disappear part 1
38 min
265
S512: COVID-19 Scams: The Rattlesnake King
39 min
266
S511: COVID-19 Scams: How to Steal a Stimulus C...
34 min
267
Inside Criminal Conduct
Criminal Conduct debuts March 23rd
19 min
268
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Criminal Conduct
2 min
269
S510: The Joe Schmo Show
57 min
270
S509: The Santa Claus Man
42 min
271
S508: The Prank Call part 4
33 min
272
S507: The Prank Call part 3
38 min
273
S506: The Prank Call part 2
40 min
274
S505: The Prank Call part 1
47 min
275
S504: The Cousins part 2
46 min