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


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True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
201
Trailer: The Real Catch Me If You Can
1 min
202
S1004: The Man Who Wears Many Hats part 2
30 min
203
S1003: The Man Who Wears Many Hats part 1
28 min
204
S1002: The Sperm Donor
32 min
205
S1001: The Dadbot
40 min
206
S908: The Deepfake
17 min
207
S907: The Forensic Musicologist
27 min
208
PRETEND's 100th Episode
42 min
209
Javier Interviews a Serial Killer — Criminal Co...
28 min
210
S905: The Business of Cults part 3
56 min
211
S904: The Business of Cults part 2
42 min
212
S903: The Business of Cults part 1
38 min
213
S902: Cons, Scams, and Flim-flams
41 min
214
S901: The KGB Agent
43 min
215
S811: The Truth About Santa
22 min
216
S810: The Hypnotist part 4 - Alien Abductions a...
38 min
217
S809: The Hypnotist part 3 - Is hypnosis admiss...
48 min
218
S808: The Hypnotist part 2
36 min
219
S807: The Hypnotist part 1
50 min
220
S806: The Real Vampires
37 min
221
Bonus: Michael plays air guitar
19 min
222
S805: The King of Lies
32 min
223
S804: The Ransomware Negotiator
35 min
224
S803: The Sovereign Man
33 min
225
S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon
48 min