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
51
2004: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2
44 min
52
2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1
41 min
53
Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buff...
28 min
54
2002: DNA Deception
33 min
55
2001: Drone Hysteria
19 min
56
1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel
62 min
57
1913: The Christmas Con Revisited
35 min
58
1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh**
63 min
59
1911: Love and Taxes Revisited
34 min
60
1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited
32 min
61
1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland
42 min
62
BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Da...
46 min
63
1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4
34 min
64
1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3
29 min
65
1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2
27 min
66
1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1
24 min
67
1904: The White Collar Support Group
54 min
68
1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited
50 min
69
1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played
32 min
70
1901: The Return of the Stalker
30 min
71
1816: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 16
50 min
72
1815: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 15
38 min
73
1814: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 14
36 min
74
LADONNA BONUS: A Swing and a Miss
19 min
75
1813: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 13
31 min