What if your phone could place you at the scene of a crime—years later?
In this bonus episode of PRETEND, we uncover how nearly 200 mobile devices that visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island left behind invisible data trails. Using just a free trial from a location data broker, an outsider was able to map those devices back to homes, offices, and even gated communities across the U.S.
This episode dives into how mobile advertising IDs—those “anonymous” trackers buried inside your apps—are being used to surveil people without their knowledge. It’s not just Epstein’s guests. Similar tactics were used to target abortion clinic visitors in Wisconsin… and the law hasn’t kept up.
Sources and Further Reading:
WIRED: Location Data From Phones Used to Track Epstein Island Visitors
https://www.wired.com/video/watch/we-tracked-every-visitor-to-epstein-island
Motherboard (VICE): A Data Broker Was Selling Location Data on People Who Visited Abortion Clinics
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/meet-abortion-bans-new-best-friend-your-phone/
EPIC.org: Data Broker Helped Anti-Abortion Group Target Planned Parenthood Visitors
https://epic.org/data-broker-helped-anti-abortion-group-target-planned-parenthood-visitors-wyden-letter-reveals/
U.S. Congress: American Data Privacy and Protection Act (ADPPA)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Data_Privacy_and_Protection_Act
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The Pale Faced Lie Revisited
David Crow says he was his father's criminal accomplice.
In today's episode, we delve into the extraordinary story of David Crow, author of the book titled "The Pale-Faced Lie." It's the story of a father and son entangled in a life of crime.
David recounts his experiences as his father's criminal accomplice, always by his side. And what it was like growing up with a violent and convicted felon who used the Native American reservation as a refuge to evade his enemies.
This episode is the story of a young boy grappling with his place in the world, torn between his father's influence and his desire for a different path.
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Listen Now: The Rise & Fall of Diddy: The Federal Trial
Opening statements rock the courtroom as federal prosecutors accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of running a decades-long criminal enterprise built on violence, sex trafficking, and power. The defense hits back hard, painting it all as a toxic relationship, not a RICO case. Then Cassie Ventura takes the stand, and everything changes. Her voice may be quiet. Her story is not.
Subscribe to The Rise & Fall of Diddy: The Federal Trial, exclusively and ad-free, right now on Wondery+. Start your free trial in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
https://wondery.com/shows/the-rise-and-fall-of-diddy/
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Cocaine Air
This week on PRETEND, we're doing something different. I’m bringing on my friend Johnathan Walton, the mastermind behind Queen of the Con, to share the premiere episode of his brand-new podcast series: Cocaine Air.
Jonathan isn’t just a victim of a con artist—he’s turned his trauma into a storytelling empire. And in Cocaine Air, he tells the true story of TJ Dominguez, a Cuban-American businessman who got scammed out of $100,000 and decided to take matters into his own hands... by becoming one of the world’s biggest cocaine smugglers for Pablo Escobar.
This story is wild, raw, and straight out of the Miami Vice era—but it's all true. If you're into PRETEND, you’re going to love Cocaine Air.
🎙️ Guest: Johnathan Walton🔗 Listen to the full series: CocaineAir.com📚 Preorder Johnathan’s book: Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags of Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves (Out August 19).
Also, listen to Johnathan share his personal scam story for the first time on PRETEND: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ixMjLTNaxf4ONIuktqq7s?si=e80842100f984067If.
If you liked this episode, text it to a friend who loves true crime. And don’t forget to leave a review for both PRETEND and Cocaine Air. Indie creators like us rely on your support.
—Created and hosted by Javier LeivaFor more episodes, visit pretendradio.org
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