306 Episodes

  1. S213: The Hijacker, Part 2 - Martin McNally

    Published: 7/24/2018

  2. S212: The Hijacker, Part 1 - Martin McNally

    Published: 7/18/2018

  3. S211: The Jolly Roger Social Club

    Published: 7/4/2018

  4. Pretend Radio Anniversary Bonus Episode

    Published: 6/19/2018

  5. S210: The Babalawo - Secrets of Santeria

    Published: 6/6/2018

  6. S209: The Good Cop, Bad Cop

    Published: 5/22/2018

  7. S208: The Stranger

    Published: 5/9/2018

  8. S207: The Gambler Part 2 - Art Schlichter

    Published: 3/13/2018

  9. S206: The Gambler Part 1 - Art Schlichter

    Published: 3/7/2018

  10. S205: The Reporter - Vester Flanagan

    Published: 2/28/2018

  11. S204: The Taker

    Published: 2/20/2018

  12. S203: The Boy and the Girl

    Published: 2/14/2018

  13. S202: The Snake Oil Salesman Part 2 - Curing Autism

    Published: 2/7/2018

  14. S201: The Snake Oil Salesman Part 1 - Curing cancer & depression

    Published: 1/31/2018

  15. S111: The Bigamist

    Published: 9/13/2017

  16. S110: The Pretender Part 2 - Undercover FBI Agent Marc Ruskin

    Published: 9/5/2017

  17. S109: The Pretender Part 1 - Undercover FBI Agent Marc Ruskin

    Published: 8/27/2017

  18. S108: The Sculptor

    Published: 8/23/2017

  19. S107: The Real Estate Agent - Part 2 - Todd Kohlhepp

    Published: 8/10/2017

  20. S106: The Real Estate Agent Part 1 - Todd Kohlhepp

    Published: 8/9/2017

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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]