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
201
S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon
48 min
202
S801: The Sovereign Citizen
40 min
203
Birth of a Con Man (Revisited)
44 min
204
The Hijacker (Revisited)
68 min
205
PRETEND turns 4
27 min
206
S710: The Sham vol. 1
32 min
207
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min
208
S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct)
40 min
209
S707: The Lie Detector part 2
47 min
210
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
211
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
212
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min
213
S703: The Pharmacist
39 min
214
S702: The Pill Mill
41 min
215
S701: The Real Donnie Brasco
52 min
216
S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast)
42 min
217
S610: The Party Crasher
38 min
218
S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4
44 min
219
S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3
58 min
220
S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2
45 min
221
S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1
38 min
222
S605: The Inheritance
48 min
223
S604: How to disappear part 4
51 min
224
S603: How to disappear part 3
59 min
225
S602: How to disappear part 2
42 min