Pretend
Deep psychological dives into con artists and fraudsters — the why, not just the what.
Podcasts Like Pretend
If you loved Pretend, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Fraud, White-Collar Crime, Organised crime shows.
Why listeners love Pretend
Pretend fills a gap between true crime and social psychology — it's not about blood, it's about belief, and why we want to trust people who are lying to us. Listeners rate its binge factor at 7/10.
Binge Factor
7/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Verdict
Worth a listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like Pretend
Sweet Bobby
Tortoise Media's definitive account of a years-long catfishing scheme — one of the most-discussed UK true crime podcasts of the decade.
The Retrievals
True crime fans interested in medical crime, systemic bias, and the treatment of women in healthcare; essential for anyone who has ever been dismissed by a doctor.
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BBC journalist Jamie Bartlett tracks down Dr Ruja Ignatova, who persuaded millions to invest in OneCoin before vanishing without a trace.
Hunting Warhead
CBC/Vice's award-winning investigation into the international hunt for a dark web child abuse network.
Fraudacious
Novel and BBC Studios trace how a London boutique owner was drawn into befriending a client posing as a wealthy Russian socialite.
British Scandal
The obvious companion to American Scandal — a season-by-season anthology of Britain's biggest political and institutional scandals.
The Lazarus Heist
BBC World Service investigates North Korea's billion-dollar state-sponsored hacking operation.
I Am Not Nicholas
BBC Studios tracks Nicholas Rossi, a man accused of sexual assault who spent years evading justice by claiming to be someone else entirely.
Two-Faced: John of God
Exactly Right and iHeart investigate João Teixeira de Faria, the Brazilian 'spiritual healer' known worldwide as John of God, accused of abuse by hundreds.
Scam Factory
Wondery investigates people tricked into working at scam call centres in Myanmar under armed guard — the trafficking operation behind the messages you dismiss as spam.
Crimetown
True crime fans who want novelistic, character-driven storytelling about organised crime and institutional corruption; listeners who want something that feels as much like great drama as documentary.
Sea of Lies
CBC's Uncover, hosted by Sam Mullins, follows a con man whose trail of stolen identities and deception crosses continents — until a Rolex watch helps crack the case.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pretend (original) | — | United States | 7/10 |
| Sweet Bobby | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Retrievals | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| Hunting Warhead | — | Canada | 9/10 |
| Fraudacious | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| British Scandal | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| The Lazarus Heist | — | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
| I Am Not Nicholas | Serialized | United Kingdom | 8/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to Pretend?
The best alternatives to Pretend are podcasts that share its Fraud, White-Collar Crime, Organised crime focus and compelling format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love Pretend?
Pretend is known for its compelling approach to Fraud and White-Collar Crime. It scores 7/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it.
How long are episodes of Pretend?
Episode lengths for Pretend vary. Check the show's feed on your preferred podcast app for the most accurate information.
Where can I listen to Pretend?
Pretend is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of Pretend to start with?
Pretend has standalone episodes — start with whatever case sounds most interesting to you.