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
S903: The Business of Cults part 1
38 min
202
S902: Cons, Scams, and Flim-flams
41 min
203
S901: The KGB Agent
43 min
204
S811: The Truth About Santa
22 min
205
S810: The Hypnotist part 4 - Alien Abductions a...
38 min
206
S809: The Hypnotist part 3 - Is hypnosis admiss...
48 min
207
S808: The Hypnotist part 2
36 min
208
S807: The Hypnotist part 1
50 min
209
S806: The Real Vampires
37 min
210
Bonus: Michael plays air guitar
19 min
211
S805: The King of Lies
32 min
212
S804: The Ransomware Negotiator
35 min
213
S803: The Sovereign Man
33 min
214
S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon
48 min
215
S801: The Sovereign Citizen
40 min
216
Birth of a Con Man (Revisited)
44 min
217
The Hijacker (Revisited)
68 min
218
PRETEND turns 4
27 min
219
S710: The Sham vol. 1
32 min
220
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min
221
S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct)
40 min
222
S707: The Lie Detector part 2
47 min
223
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
224
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
225
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min