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 | ||
| S806: The Real Vampires | 2021-10-26 | ||
| Bonus: Michael plays air guitar | 2021-10-12 | ||
| S805: The King of Lies | 2021-09-28 | ||
| S804: The Ransomware Negotiator | 2021-09-14 | ||
| S803: The Sovereign Man | 2021-08-31 | ||
| S802: The Naked Sovereign Surgeon | 2021-08-17 | ||
| S801: The Sovereign Citizen | 2021-08-04 | ||
| Birth of a Con Man (Revisited) | 2021-07-20 | ||
| The Hijacker (Revisited) | 2021-07-06 | ||
| PRETEND turns 4 | 2021-06-22 | ||
| S710: The Sham vol. 1 | 2021-05-11 | ||
| S709: The Liquor Guy | 2021-04-27 | ||
| S708: The Constable (Criminal Conduct) | 2021-04-13 | ||
| S707: The Lie Detector part 2 | 2021-03-30 | ||
| S706: The Lie Detector part 1 | 2021-03-16 | ||
| S705: The Word of Faith Fellowship Update | 2021-03-02 | ||
| S704: The Confident Woman | 2021-02-16 | ||
| S703: The Pharmacist | 2021-02-02 | ||
| S702: The Pill Mill | 2021-01-19 | ||
| S701: The Real Donnie Brasco | 2021-01-04 |