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.


© 2025 Creative Babble LLC


[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
176
S907: The Forensic Musicologist
27 min
177
PRETEND's 100th Episode
42 min
178
Javier Interviews a Serial Killer — Criminal Co...
28 min
179
S905: The Business of Cults part 3
56 min
180
S904: The Business of Cults part 2
42 min
181
S903: The Business of Cults part 1
38 min
182
S902: Cons, Scams, and Flim-flams
41 min
183
S901: The KGB Agent
43 min
184
S811: The Truth About Santa
22 min
185
S810: The Hypnotist part 4 - Alien Abductions a...
38 min
186
S809: The Hypnotist part 3 - Is hypnosis admiss...
48 min
187
S808: The Hypnotist part 2
36 min
188
S807: The Hypnotist part 1
50 min
189
S806: The Real Vampires
37 min
190
Bonus: Michael plays air guitar
19 min
191
S805: The King of Lies
32 min
192
S804: The Ransomware Negotiator
35 min
193
S803: The Sovereign Man
33 min
194
S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon
48 min
195
S801: The Sovereign Citizen
40 min
196
Birth of a Con Man (Revisited)
44 min
197
The Hijacker (Revisited)
68 min
198
PRETEND turns 4
27 min
199
S710: The Sham vol. 1
32 min
200
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min