306 Episodes

  1. 2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities

    Published: 5/10/2025

  2. 2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted

    Published: 5/6/2025

  3. 2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle

    Published: 4/29/2025

  4. 2102: Faking Insanity

    Published: 4/22/2025

  5. 2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer

    Published: 4/15/2025

  6. 2013: I Married a Narcissist part 3

    Published: 4/8/2025

  7. 2012: I Married a Narcissist part 2 Listener Reactions

    Published: 4/1/2025

  8. 2011: I Married a Narcissist part 1

    Published: 3/25/2025

  9. 2010: The Keepsake Scandal

    Published: 3/21/2025

  10. 2009: The Gambler Revisited

    Published: 3/11/2025

  11. 2008: Licensed to Kill part 2

    Published: 3/4/2025

  12. 2007: Licensed to Kill part 1

    Published: 2/25/2025

  13. 2006: Operation Cock Block

    Published: 2/19/2025

  14. 2005: The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3

    Published: 2/11/2025

  15. 2004: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2

    Published: 2/4/2025

  16. 2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1

    Published: 1/28/2025

  17. Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buffalo Jim

    Published: 1/21/2025

  18. Nobody Should Believe Me: Sophie Saves Zambia

    Published: 1/14/2025

  19. 2002: DNA Deception

    Published: 1/7/2025

  20. 2001: Drone Hysteria

    Published: 12/31/2024

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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]