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, an and based in the United States, 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. [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]
| Title | Date published | ||
| S611: The Santa Claus Man (Rebroadcast) | 2020-12-22 | ||
| S610: The Party Crasher | 2020-12-09 | ||
| S609: The Treasure Hunter part 4 | 2020-11-25 | ||
| S608: The Treasure Hunter part 3 | 2020-11-11 | ||
| S607: The Treasure Hunter part 2 | 2020-10-30 | ||
| S606: The Treasure Hunter part 1 | 2020-10-16 | ||
| S605: The Inheritance | 2020-10-02 | ||
| S604: How to disappear part 4 | 2020-09-18 | ||
| S603: How to disappear part 3 | 2020-09-04 | ||
| S602: How to disappear part 2 | 2020-08-21 | ||
| S601: How to disappear part 1 | 2020-08-07 | ||
| S512: COVID-19 Scams: The Rattlesnake King | 2020-06-16 | ||
| S511: COVID-19 Scams: How to Steal a Stimulus Check | 2020-05-26 | ||
| Inside Criminal Conduct | 2020-03-16 | ||
| BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Criminal Conduct | 2020-02-03 | ||
| S510: The Joe Schmo Show | 2020-01-14 | ||
| S509: The Santa Claus Man | 2019-12-18 | ||
| S508: The Prank Call part 4 | 2019-12-04 | ||
| S507: The Prank Call part 3 | 2019-11-20 | ||
| S506: The Prank Call part 2 | 2019-11-06 |