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
101
1914: BONUS: Grapes, Grifts, and Gavel
62 min
102
1913: The Christmas Con Revisited
35 min
103
1912: BONUS: Affirmative Pretend Bullsh**
63 min
104
1911: Love and Taxes Revisited
34 min
105
1910: The Maury Povich Olive Lady - Revisited
32 min
106
1909: The Woman Who Almost Stole Graceland
42 min
107
BONUS: How to Spot a Con Artist on the First Da...
46 min
108
LaDonna's Surrogates part 4
34 min
109
LaDonna's Surrogates part 3
29 min
110
LaDonna's Surrogates part 2
27 min
111
LaDonna's Surrogates part 1
24 min
112
1904: The White Collar Support Group
54 min
113
1903: The Naked Surgeon Revisited
50 min
114
1902: The Greatest Footballer Who Never Played
32 min
115
The Return of the Stalker part 20
30 min
116
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 16
50 min
117
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 15
38 min
118
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 14
36 min
119
LADONNA BONUS: A Swing and a Miss
19 min
120
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 13
31 min
121
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 12
41 min
122
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 11
56 min
123
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 10
27 min
124
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 9
45 min
125
Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 8
35 min