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
S709: The Liquor Guy
27 min
202
S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct)
40 min
203
S707: The Lie Detector part 2
47 min
204
S706: The Lie Detector part 1
44 min
205
S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update
69 min
206
S704: The Confident Woman
28 min
207
S703: The Pharmacist
39 min
208
S702: The Pill Mill
41 min
209
S701: The Real Donnie Brasco
52 min
210
S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast)
42 min
211
S610: The Party Crasher
38 min
212
S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4
44 min
213
S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3
58 min
214
S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2
45 min
215
S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1
38 min
216
S605: The Inheritance
48 min
217
S604: How to disappear part 4
51 min
218
S603: How to disappear part 3
59 min
219
S602: How to disappear part 2
42 min
220
S601: How to disappear part 1
38 min
221
S512: COVID-19 Scams: The Rattlesnake King
39 min
222
S511: COVID-19 Scams: How to Steal a Stimulus C...
34 min
223
Inside Criminal Conduct
Criminal Conduct debuts March 23rd
19 min
224
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Criminal Conduct
2 min
225
S510: The Joe Schmo Show
57 min