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
51
2203: The Playwright part 3
41 min
52
2202: The Playwright part 2
37 min
53
2201: The Playwright part 1
39 min
54
BONUS: The Digital Trail to Epstein’s Island
10 min
55
The Pale Faced Lie Revisited
42 min
56
2111: The Stalker - New Charges part 21
28 min
57
2110: Cocaine Air
46 min
58
2109: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 4
36 min
59
2108: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 3
33 min
60
2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2
37 min
61
2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1
30 min
62
2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities
27 min
63
2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted
26 min
64
2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle
19 min
65
2102: Faking Insanity
37 min
66
2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer
32 min
67
2013: I Married a Narcissist part 3
48 min
68
2012: I Married a Narcissist part 2 Listener Re...
13 min
69
2011: I Married a Narcissist part 1
51 min
70
2010: The Keepsake Scandal
30 min
71
2009: The Gambler Revisited
37 min
72
2008: Licensed to Kill part 2
28 min
73
2007: Licensed to Kill part 1
37 min
74
2006: Operation Cock Block
46 min
75
2005: The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3
34 min