PRETEND

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.


© 2026 Creative Babble LLC


[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
1
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 2
40 min
2
The Stalker: Police Say They Found Who Was Send...
40 min
3
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 1
32 min
4
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Official Trailer
1 min
5
He Turned His Own Father In. Then Built a Caree...
29 min
6
How Edward Smog Scammed a Retired Nurse Out of ...
35 min
7
Chain of Command: An Inside Man Speaks
25 min
8
The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played Revisited
29 min
9
Javier Stops by the Hot Mess Happy Hour Podcast 🍸
23 min
10
Introducing: 'Hardcore Con' with Johnathan Walton
38 min
11
Chain of Command part 7
39 min
12
Chain of Command part 6
30 min
13
Chain of Command part 5
27 min
14
The Lottery Curse with Murder: True Crime Stories
4 min
15
Chain of Command part 4
39 min
16
Chain of Command part 3
30 min
17
Chain of Command part 2
29 min
18
The Raid | From Deep Cover: The Family Man
36 min
19
Chain of Command part 1
36 min
20
Operation Cockblock Revisited
52 min
21
The Greatest Podcast Episodes Ever Made (Bonus)
43 min
22
I Beg Your Pardon part 6: The MAGA Granny
45 min
23
I Beg Your Pardon part 5
26 min
24
I Beg Your Pardon part 4
23 min
25
I Beg Your Pardon part 3
32 min