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
76
2010: The Keepsake Scandal
30 min
77
2009: The Gambler Revisited
37 min
78
2008: Licensed to Kill part 2
28 min
79
2007: Licensed to Kill part 1
37 min
80
2006: Operation Cock Block
46 min
81
2005: The Telepathy Tapes B-side part 3
34 min
82
2004: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2
44 min
83
2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1
41 min
84
Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buff...
28 min
85
2002: DNA Deception
33 min
86
2001: Drone Hysteria
19 min
87
1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel
62 min
88
1913: The Christmas Con Revisited
35 min
89
1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh**
63 min
90
1911: Love and Taxes Revisited
34 min
91
1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited
32 min
92
1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland
42 min
93
BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Da...
46 min
94
1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4
34 min
95
1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3
29 min
96
1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2
27 min
97
1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1
24 min
98
1904: The White Collar Support Group
54 min
99
1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited
50 min
100
1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played
32 min