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
2304: Cracks in the Fandom part 4
52 min
27
2303: Cracks in the Fandom part 3
41 min
28
2302: Cracks in the Fandom part 2
37 min
29
2301: Cracks in the Fandom part 1
35 min
30
2210: The High School Hoax Update
29 min
31
2209: The Stalker: Rick Fernandez’s Guilty Plea
9 min
32
2208: The Monster
38 min
33
2208: State of Corruption: Ohio part 2
37 min
34
2207: State of Corruption: Ohio part 1
34 min
35
The Real Donnie Brasco - FBI Case File Review
67 min
36
2205: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Part 18:...
51 min
37
2204: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 17
27 min
38
"Nobody Should Believe Me" — When the Advocate ...
49 min
39
2203: The Playwright part 3
41 min
40
2202: The Playwright part 2
37 min
41
2201: The Playwright part 1
39 min
42
BONUS: The Digital Trail to Epstein’s Island
10 min
43
The Pale Faced Lie Revisited
42 min
44
2111: The Stalker - New Charges part 21
28 min
45
2110: Cocaine Air
46 min
46
2109: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 4
36 min
47
2108: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 3
33 min
48
2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2
37 min
49
2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1
30 min
50
2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities
27 min