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
2208: State of Corruption: Ohio part 2
37 min
52
2207: State of Corruption: Ohio part 1
34 min
53
The Real Donnie Brasco - FBI Case File Review
67 min
54
2205: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Part 18:...
51 min
55
2204: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 17
27 min
56
"Nobody Should Believe Me" — When the Advocate ...
49 min
57
2203: The Playwright part 3
41 min
58
2202: The Playwright part 2
37 min
59
2201: The Playwright part 1
39 min
60
BONUS: The Digital Trail to Epstein’s Island
10 min
61
The Pale Faced Lie Revisited
42 min
62
2111: The Stalker - New Charges part 21
28 min
63
2110: Cocaine Air
46 min
64
2109: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 4
36 min
65
2108: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 3
33 min
66
2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2
37 min
67
2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1
30 min
68
2105: The Man Who Stole 200 Million Identities
27 min
69
2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted
26 min
70
2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle
19 min
71
2102: Faking Insanity
37 min
72
2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer
32 min
73
2013: I Married a Narcissist part 3
48 min
74
2012: I Married a Narcissist part 2 Listener Re...
13 min
75
2011: I Married a Narcissist part 1
51 min