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 | ||
| 2006: Operation Cock Block | 2025-02-19 | ||
| 2005: The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3 | 2025-02-11 | ||
| 2004: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2 | 2025-02-04 | ||
| 2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1 | 2025-01-28 | ||
| Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim | 2025-01-21 | ||
| 2002: DNA Deception | 2025-01-07 | ||
| 2001: Drone Hysteria | 2024-12-31 | ||
| 1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel | 2024-12-26 | ||
| 1913: The Christmas Con Revisited | 2024-12-24 | ||
| 1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh** | 2024-12-23 | ||
| 1911: Love and Taxes Revisited | 2024-12-18 | ||
| 1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited | 2024-12-11 | ||
| 1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland | 2024-12-03 | ||
| BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Date and When to Walk Away | 2024-11-26 | ||
| 1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4 | 2024-11-19 | ||
| 1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3 | 2024-11-12 | ||
| 1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2 | 2024-11-05 | ||
| 1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1 | 2024-10-29 | ||
| 1904: The White Collar Support Group | 2024-10-22 | ||
| 1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited | 2024-10-15 |