306 Episodes

  1. S604: How to disappear part 4

    Published: 9/18/2020

  2. S603: How to disappear part 3

    Published: 9/4/2020

  3. S602: How to disappear part 2

    Published: 8/21/2020

  4. S601: How to disappear part 1

    Published: 8/7/2020

  5. S512: COVID-19 Scams: The Rattlesnake King

    Published: 6/16/2020

  6. S511: COVID-19 Scams: How to Steal a Stimulus Check

    Published: 5/26/2020

  7. Inside Criminal Conduct

    Published: 3/16/2020

  8. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Criminal Conduct

    Published: 2/3/2020

  9. S510: The Joe Schmo Show

    Published: 1/14/2020

  10. S509: The Santa Claus Man

    Published: 12/18/2019

  11. S508: The Prank Call part 4

    Published: 12/4/2019

  12. S507: The Prank Call part 3

    Published: 11/20/2019

  13. S506: The Prank Call part 2

    Published: 11/6/2019

  14. S505: The Prank Call part 1

    Published: 10/23/2019

  15. S504: The Cousins part 2

    Published: 10/9/2019

  16. S503: The Cousins part 1

    Published: 9/25/2019

  17. S502: The Sugar Daddy part 2

    Published: 9/11/2019

  18. S501: The Sugar Daddy part 1

    Published: 8/28/2019

  19. S411: The Norco Bank Heist part 2

    Published: 7/31/2019

  20. S410: The Norco Bank Heist part 1

    Published: 7/19/2019

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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]