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
1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4
34 min
77
1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3
29 min
78
1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2
27 min
79
1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1
24 min
80
1904: The White Collar Support Group
54 min
81
1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited
50 min
82
1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played
32 min
83
1901: The Return of the Stalker
30 min
84
1816: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 16
50 min
85
1815: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 15
38 min
86
1814: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 14
36 min
87
LADONNA BONUS: A Swing and a Miss
19 min
88
1813: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 13
31 min
89
1812: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 12
41 min
90
1811: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 11
56 min
91
1810: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 10
27 min
92
1809: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 9
45 min
93
1808: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 8
35 min
94
1807: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 7
38 min
95
1806: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 6
29 min
96
1805: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 5
40 min
97
1804: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 4
26 min
98
1803: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 3
44 min
99
1802: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 2
33 min
100
1801: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 1
38 min