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
26
Listener Reaction: Didn't See It Coming part 2
23 min
27
2502: Didn't See It Coming (Part 2)
29 min
28
Listener Reaction: Didn't See That Coming Part 1
24 min
29
2501: Didn't See It Coming (Part 1)
36 min
30
2408: PRETEND Live AMA
63 min
31
2407-Licensed to Kill Revisited
73 min
32
2406: The Real Life Grinch
35 min
33
Listener Reaction: Matthew Fenner vs. Ted Bell ...
27 min
34
2405: The Prophet: Matthew Fenner vs Ted Bell
54 min
35
Off Script: Pretend, Murder She Told & Sins and...
34 min
36
2404: Open Enrollment, Open Season for Scammers
25 min
37
2403: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 3
38 min
38
Listener Reaction: The Cancer Sympathy Machine
18 min
39
2402: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 2
28 min
40
2401: The Cancer Sympathy Machine part 1
35 min
41
2309: From Smallville to NXIVM: The Psychology ...
40 min
42
2210: The High School Hoax Update
29 min
43
2209: The Stalker: Rick Fernandez’s Guilty Plea
9 min
44
2208: The Monster
38 min
45
2208: State of Corruption: Ohio part 2
37 min
46
2207: State of Corruption: Ohio part 1
34 min
47
The Real Donnie Brasco - FBI Case File Review
67 min
48
2205: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Part 18:...
51 min
49
2204: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 17
27 min
50
"Nobody Should Believe Me" — When the Advocate ...
49 min