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


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True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
1
How Edward Smog Scammed a Retired Nurse Out of ...
35 min
2
Chain of Command: An Inside Man Speaks
25 min
3
The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played Revisited
29 min
4
Javier Stops by the Hot Mess Happy Hour Podcast 🍸
23 min
5
Introducing: 'Hardcore Con' with Johnathan Walton
38 min
6
Chain of Command part 7
39 min
7
Chain of Command part 6
30 min
8
Chain of Command part 5
27 min
9
The Lottery Curse with Murder: True Crime Stories
4 min
10
Chain of Command part 4
39 min
11
Chain of Command part 3
30 min
12
Chain of Command part 2
29 min
13
The Raid | From Deep Cover: The Family Man
36 min
14
Chain of Command part 1
36 min
15
Operation Cockblock Revisited
52 min
16
The Greatest Podcast Episodes Ever Made (Bonus)
43 min
17
I Beg Your Pardon part 6: The MAGA Granny
45 min
18
I Beg Your Pardon part 5
26 min
19
I Beg Your Pardon part 4
23 min
20
I Beg Your Pardon part 3
32 min
21
I Beg Your Pardon part 2
37 min
22
I Beg Your Pardon part 1
35 min
23
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Revisited
39 min
24
Update on “The Hand That Held Me”
0 min
25
The Pests part 3 & 4 Revisited
75 min