In this episode of PRETEND, recorded live at the GISEC cybersecurity conference in Dubai, I spoke with Hieu Minh Ngo, once one of the most prolific identity thieves in the world.
Operating out of Vietnam, Hieu stole and sold personal data on over 200 million Americans. We're talking names, birth dates, Social Security numbers—everything you’d need to become someone else.
But he didn’t hack his way in. Instead, he used open-source intelligence and even impersonated a private investigator to gain legal access to massive data broker networks.
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28:30
2104: The Digital Pickpocket Revisted
While speaking at a hacker conference in Dubai, Javier revisits a conversation with professional pickpocket and entertainer James Freedman. James reveals how a childhood scuffle led to a lifelong obsession with the art of pickpocketing, evolving from swiping coins to mastering social engineering and even digital fraud.
🔗 Listen to Part 2Click here for The Digital Pickpocket, Part 2 →
💬 Connect with Javier on social
Instagram/Twitter/TikTok: @pretendpod
🛡 Stay safe:
Learn how to defend yourself against modern pickpockets — both analog and digital.
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30:09
2103: LaDonna's Easter Egg Hustle
How LaDonna Humphrey Used a Children's Event to Funnel Money Through Oasis of Northwest Arkansas.
What happens when a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt turns into a glowing red flag?
In this bonus episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva exposes a so-called family event that promised “magic,” but delivered mayhem — all tied to LaDonna Humphrey and her questionable nonprofit, Oasis of Northwest Arkansas.
Held at Mt. Hebron Park on April 12, 2025, the event was marketed as an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark Easter experience. According to the Facebook ad, attendees were told to:
“Embark on an egg-citing adventure under the starry sky..." “Search high and low for luminescent treasures..." “Watch the park come alive with a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors..." “A plethora of prizes and surprises await..."
But in reality, it was more like the FYRE Festival of Easter egg hunts.
One parent described the event as “no different than any free egg hunt at a church”—except this one cost $50 per family.
Instead of a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, this event featured crying kids, confused parents, and a nonprofit operating in the dark, literally and figuratively.
👀 New LaDonna episodes are in the works — featuring new fake accounts, missing persons cases, and a sheriff caught in the crossfire. Stay tuned.
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22:20
2102: Faking Insanity
Can you really fake being insane—and get away with it? In this episode of PRETEND, host Javier Leiva sits down with forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels to pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of mental health evaluations in the criminal justice system.
We explore how some criminals try to game the system, what psychologists look for when evaluating claims of mental illness, and why even experts can be fooled. Plus, we revisit infamous cases like Richard Speck, George Metesky (aka The Mad Bomber), Ted Bundy, and Ed Kemper to examine how psychology—and its blind spots—played a role in their investigations.
Guest:
Dr. Tristin Engels is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist, published author, and co-host of the podcast Killer Minds.
👉 If you want more criminal psychology deep-dives, check out Dr. Engels’ podcast Killer Minds, where she breaks down infamous cases through the lens of a forensic expert.
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41:16
2101: My Wife, the Ponzi Schemer
Interview with a man convicted of a Ponzi scheme. Bill Livolsi says he was just trying to help his wife, Linda—the ringleader of a multi-million dollar investment scam.
In this episode of PRETEND, Bill opens up about how he got roped into the scheme, ignored every red flag, and ultimately landed in prison. He describes fake hedge funds, imaginary employees, and a key investor who also happened to be a self-proclaimed witch and lottery winner.
But here’s the twist: Linda isn’t just any con artist. She’s the sister of the woman who tried to steal Elvis Presley’s Graceland—something we covered in a previous episode of PRETEND. Yeah, this story just got a whole lot weirder.
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