PRETEND

Creative Babble, LLC
thisispretend.com
Weekly podcast. Next episode on Tuesday.
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



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320 episodes  •  0 archived  •  
S27 E6
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 6
S27 E6·
September 15
September 15
41 mins
S27 E5
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, part 5
S27 E5·
September 8
September 8
42 mins
S27 E4
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 4
S27 E4·
September 1
September 1
39 mins
S12 E26
The Stalker: Shelbey Fernandez Speaks, Part 23
S12 E26·
August 28
August 28
25 mins
S27 E3
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 3
S27 E3·
August 25
August 25
37 mins
S27 E2
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 2
S27 E2·
August 18
August 18
42 mins
S27 E1
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Part 1
S27 E1·
August 11
August 11
35 mins
Season 27 Trailer
The Gypsy Rose Obsession, Official Trailer
Season 27 Trailer·
August 11
August 11
2 mins