The COVID-19 pandemic is a conman’s Super Bowl. In times like these, when there's so much uncertainty, snake oil salesmen are ready to promise you a cure.In this episode, you'll hear from a woman who takes one of these miracle drugs. I ask her why she takes it.Special thanks to:Joe Terrell with Instrument of Mercy https://instrumentofmercy.com/A Concerned Citizen and host of SwindledSources:https://www.who.int/csr/don/2011_11_24/en/https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170722143956/https:/www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/SafetyAlertsAdvisories/ucm184087.htmhttps://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/what-can-coronavirus-tell-us-about-conspiracy-theories/610894/https://news.gallup.com/poll/248837/church-membership-down-sharply-past-two-decades.aspxhttps://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/holy-spirit-empowered-christian-global-pentecostal-study.html-------Story idea? If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at info@pretendradio.org.For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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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 stor...