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In the world of modern scams, few figures have captured public attention quite like Simon Leviev. Dubbed the “Tinder Swindler” after a hit Netflix documentary exposed his elaborate web of deception, Leviev’s story is a chilling blend of charm, manipulation, and digital-age fraud.
But who exactly is Simon Leviev, and what did he do?
The Man Behind the Persona
Simon Leviev was born Shimon Yehuda Hayut in Bnei Brak, Israel, in 1990. Long before he became known worldwide as the “Tinder Swindler,” Shimon was already familiar with the world of deception. As a teenager, he reportedly began forging checks and using stolen credit card details, activities that would land him in trouble with Israeli authorities. Rather than face prosecution, he fled the country kicking off a global trail of fraud that would stretch across multiple countries and continents.Reinventing himself abroad, Hayut adopted the name Simon Leviev, claiming to be the son of Lev Leviev, a real-life Israeli billionaire and diamond mogul often referred to as the “King of Diamonds.” Though there was no actual connection, the fabricated lineage provided instant credibility and an aura of untouchable wealth.
Using social media and dating platforms like Tinder, Leviev carefully crafted the illusion of a lavish lifestyle. His profiles featured images of him on private jets, in luxury cars, wearing designer suits, and staying at elite hotels. He was rarely seen alone always surrounded by bodyguards, assistants, or glamorous acquaintances, all of which served to bolster the idea that he was a high-profile businessman with real influence.
The performance was convincing because it was relentless. He maintained the illusion through every interaction, using rented jets, staged photos, and funds stolen from previous victims to perpetuate the next round of manipulation. What started as a digital identity soon became a real-life con that spanned borders and bank accounts.
The Scam
Simon Leviev's scheme was as calculated as it was personal. Unlike financial scams involving faceless victims, his con unfolded within the emotionally vulnerable space of romantic relationships making it all the more damaging and manipulative. It followed a formula, one he perfected over time, targeting women who were looking for love and offering them everything they dreamed of until he took it all away.1. Lure the Victim
Leviev would begin by matching with women on dating apps like Tinder, presenting himself as a wealthy, confident, and successful jet-setter. First impressions were critical. He often arranged lavish first dates flights on private jets, dinners at high-end restaurants, and nights at five-star hotels. Everything was designed to overwhelm, impress, and create the illusion that they had met someone extraordinary.2. Build Trust
After sweeping them off their feet, Leviev would intensify the emotional connection. He sent constant texts, made frequent calls, and spoke of future plans. Once the women were fully emotionally invested, he introduced a crisis: “enemies” in the diamond industry were after him, and he needed to disappear for safety.3. Ask for Help
Claiming his accounts were temporarily frozen for security reasons, Leviev would plead for financial assistance not small sums, but tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. He convinced victims to open new credit cards in their name or take out loans on his behalf, promising to repay them as soon as he was “safe.”4. Disappear or Manipulate Further
Once the victim was financially drained or grew suspicious, Leviev would cut contact, offer excuses, or disappear altogether. Meanwhile, he was already wining and dining the next woman funding his next scheme with the last one’s money.By the time authorities began to connect the dots, Leviev had allegedly stolen millions of dollars across multiple countries, executing a modern-day Ponzi romance scam with chilling precision.
The Fallout
In 2019, after years of moving across borders and operating under false identities, Shimon Hayut alias Simon Leviev was finally arrested in Greece, caught using a fake passport. He was swiftly extradited to Israel, where he faced charges unrelated to his high-profile romance scams, but instead stemming from earlier fraud convictions in his home country.Hayut was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but served only five months before being released early for good behavior. The brevity of his incarceration despite the multi-million dollar frauds he allegedly committed across Europe sparked public outrage and disbelief. None of the European victims featured in The Tinder Swindler documentary have seen formal justice pursued on their behalf, due in part to the complex international nature of his crimes and the lack of coordinated prosecution.
Even more shocking was Leviev’s return to social media, where he resumed posting photos of luxury cars, designer outfits, and upscale vacations. He branded himself as a “business consultant” and public figure, offered online mentoring, and denied all wrongdoing insisting he was misunderstood, and that the women had lied.
His public resurgence only deepened the emotional wounds of his victims, many of whom are still grappling with massive debt, ruined credit, and psychological trauma. For them, the greatest insult wasn’t just the money lost but watching their con man walk free, flaunt wealth, and gain notoriety from the very scam that devastated their lives.
Cultural Impact
When The Tinder Swindler premiered on Netflix in February 2022, it did more than expose Simon Leviev’s elaborate fraud it ignited a global conversation. The documentary, watched by millions worldwide, peeled back the layers of charm and manipulation to reveal the harrowing financial and emotional damage Leviev inflicted. Almost overnight, he became a symbol of digital-age deception.The film’s success resonated because it tapped into two modern fears: the vulnerability of online dating and the illusion of wealth on social media. Viewers were shocked not just by what Leviev did, but by how easily he did it using familiar tools like Tinder, WhatsApp, Instagram, and fake websites to create an entirely believable fantasy. His victims weren’t naive; they were smart, cautious women who were emotionally groomed, not just financially tricked.
Public reaction was swift and polarized. Many rallied around the victims, launching crowdfunding campaigns to help them recover. Others questioned how such an obvious fraud could persist unchecked, raising serious concerns about regulatory gaps, weak platform safeguards, and international enforcement challenges.
The documentary prompted calls for dating apps to implement stronger identity verification systems, and for credit card companies and law enforcement agencies to better coordinate across borders to protect fraud victims. It also shed light on the psychological manipulation inherent in romance scams where the betrayal runs deeper than money.
Ultimately, Simon Leviev’s story became a cultural lightning rod, highlighting how charisma, technology, and greed can combine into one of the most dangerous kinds of fraud: one that plays on trust, love, and hope.
Where Is He Now?
As of the most recent updates, Simon Leviev still legally Shimon Hayut remains a free man, living openly despite global notoriety. Rather than retreat from the spotlight, he has embraced it, cultivating a public persona on social media and branding himself as a “self-made entrepreneur” and lifestyle influencer.Leviev continues to deny all allegations detailed in The Tinder Swindler documentary, claiming that the women involved were lying and that he is the victim of a media smear campaign. He has leveraged the attention to pitch himself as a consultant and public speaker, even flirting with entertainment deals including rumored ventures into reality TV.
Despite the outrage surrounding his actions, no new charges have been brought against him in Europe, where legal jurisdictions and cross-border enforcement remain complicated. For now, Leviev remains a free, controversial figure, still living off the notoriety of a con that exposed just how fragile digital trust can be.
The Bigger Picture
Simon Leviev’s story isn’t just about one man it’s about how technology, trust, and greed intersect in the 21st century. His case shows how people can be manipulated not just by strangers in dark alleys, but by well-dressed “princes” on dating apps.His legacy, if nothing else, is a warning: not everything glamorous on your phone screen is real and some fairy tales are designed to bankrupt you.
