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
201
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
202
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
203
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min
204
S703: The Pharmacist
39 min
205
S702: The Pill Mill
41 min
206
S701: The Real Donnie Brasco
52 min
207
S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast)
42 min
208
S610: The Party Crasher
38 min
209
S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4
44 min
210
S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3
58 min
211
S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2
45 min
212
S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1
38 min
213
S605: The Inheritance
48 min
214
S604: How to disappear part 4
51 min
215
S603: How to disappear part 3
59 min
216
S602: How to disappear part 2
42 min
217
S601: How to disappear part 1
38 min
218
S512: COVID-19 Scams: The Rattlesnake King
39 min
219
S511: COVID-19 Scams: How to Steal a Stimulus C...
34 min
220
Inside Criminal Conduct
Criminal Conduct debuts March 23rd
19 min
221
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Criminal Conduct
2 min
222
S510: The Joe Schmo Show
57 min
223
S509: The Santa Claus Man
42 min
224
S508: The Prank Call part 4
33 min
225
S507: The Prank Call part 3
38 min