306 Episodes

  1. 2209: The Stalker: Rick Fernandez’s Guilty Plea

    Published: 9/23/2025

  2. 2208: The Monster

    Published: 9/16/2025

  3. 2208: State of Corruption: Ohio part 2

    Published: 9/9/2025

  4. 2207: State of Corruption: Ohio part 1

    Published: 9/2/2025

  5. The Real Donnie Brasco - FBI Case File Review

    Published: 8/28/2025

  6. 2205: Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey Part 18: The 911 Caller

    Published: 8/19/2025

  7. 2204: Who's Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey part 17

    Published: 8/12/2025

  8. "Nobody Should Believe Me" — When the Advocate Is the Abuser

    Published: 8/5/2025

  9. 2203: The Playwright part 3

    Published: 7/29/2025

  10. Listen Now: Business Wars

    Published: 7/23/2025

  11. 2202: The Playwright part 2

    Published: 7/22/2025

  12. 2201: The Playwright part 1

    Published: 7/15/2025

  13. BONUS: The Digital Trail to Epstein’s Island

    Published: 7/9/2025

  14. The Pale Faced Lie Revisited

    Published: 7/1/2025

  15. 2111: The Stalker - New Charges part 21

    Published: 6/24/2025

  16. 2110: Cocaine Air

    Published: 6/10/2025

  17. 2109: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 4

    Published: 6/3/2025

  18. 2108: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 3

    Published: 5/28/2025

  19. 2107: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 2

    Published: 5/20/2025

  20. 2106: The Internet Saves the Bachelor part 1

    Published: 5/14/2025

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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. © 2025 Creative Babble LLC [CLAIM:B6BT3XC4]