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.


© 2025 Creative Babble LLC


[CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]

True Crime
Technology
Society & Culture
26
2203: The Playwright part 3
41 min
27
2202: The Playwright part 2
37 min
28
2201: The Playwright part 1
39 min
29
BONUS: The Digital Trail to Epstein’s Island
10 min
30
The Pale Faced Lie Revisited
42 min
31
2111: The Stalker - New Charges part 21
28 min
32
2110: Cocaine Air
46 min
33
2109: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 4
36 min
34
2108: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 3
33 min
35
2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2
37 min
36
2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1
30 min
37
2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities
27 min
38
2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted
26 min
39
2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle
19 min
40
2102: Faking Insanity
37 min
41
2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer
32 min
42
2013: I Married a Narcissist part 3
48 min
43
2012: I Married a Narcissist part 2 Listener Re...
13 min
44
2011: I Married a Narcissist part 1
51 min
45
2010: The Keepsake Scandal
30 min
46
2009: The Gambler Revisited
37 min
47
2008: Licensed to Kill part 2
28 min
48
2007: Licensed to Kill part 1
37 min
49
2006: Operation Cock Block
46 min
50
2005: The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3
34 min