302 Episodes

  1. 2404: Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers

    Published: 12/9/2025

  2. 2403: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 3

    Published: 12/2/2025

  3. Listener Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine (BONUS)

    Published: 11/28/2025

  4. 2402: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 2

    Published: 11/25/2025

  5. 2401: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 1

    Published: 11/18/2025

  6. Dakota Spotlight: Meanwhile in Mankato

    Published: 11/17/2025

  7. 2309: From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology Behind Allison Mack

    Published: 11/11/2025

  8. Bonus: The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships (Cracks in the Fandom)

    Published: 11/10/2025

  9. The Hypnotist - Alien Abductions

    Published: 11/1/2025

  10. The Haunted Tourist

    Published: 10/31/2025

  11. The Real Vampires

    Published: 10/30/2025

  12. 2304: Cracks in the Fandom part 4

    Published: 10/28/2025

  13. 2303: Cracks in the Fandom part 3

    Published: 10/21/2025

  14. 2302: Cracks in the Fandom part 2

    Published: 10/14/2025

  15. 2301: Cracks in the Fandom part 1

    Published: 10/6/2025

  16. 2210: The High School Hoax Update

    Published: 9/30/2025

  17. 2209: The Stalker: Rick Fernandez’s Guilty Plea

    Published: 9/23/2025

  18. 2208: The Monster

    Published: 9/16/2025

  19. 2208: State of Corruption: Ohio part 2

    Published: 9/9/2025

  20. 2207: State of Corruption: Ohio part 1

    Published: 9/2/2025

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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]