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
2004: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 2
44 min
77
2003: The Telepathy Tapes B-Side part 1
41 min
78
Criminal Conduct S5: The Life and Death of Buff...
28 min
79
2002: DNA Deception
33 min
80
2001: Drone Hysteria
19 min
81
1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel
62 min
82
1913: The Christmas Con Revisited
35 min
83
1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh**
63 min
84
1911: Love and Taxes Revisited
34 min
85
1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited
32 min
86
1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland
42 min
87
BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Da...
46 min
88
1908: LaDonna's Surrogates part 4
34 min
89
1907: LaDonna's Surrogates part 3
29 min
90
1906: LaDonna's Surrogates part 2
27 min
91
1905: LaDonna's Surrogates part 1
24 min
92
1904: The White Collar Support Group
54 min
93
1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited
50 min
94
1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played
32 min
95
1901: The Return of the Stalker
30 min
96
1816: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 16
50 min
97
1815: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 15
38 min
98
1814: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 14
36 min
99
LADONNA BONUS: A Swing and a Miss
19 min
100
1813: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 13
31 min