The Netflix true-crime documentary The Tinder Swindler follows the crimes of serial fraudster Shimon Hayut.
Hayut posed as Simon Leviev, who claimed to be the son of a diamond mogul on the popular dating app Tinder. Under the false identity, Hayut charmed various women and trick them into loaning him money. The scheme was able to earn him an estimated $10 million from people across the globe.
Who Is ‘Tinder Swindler’ Shimon Hayut?
Hayut was then convicted of fraud, theft and forgery and sentenced to 15 months in prison in December 2019. But he was released early only five months later, and now he is able to walk free, while the numerous women he scammed are still facing severe debt.
Though he is a free man, Hayut is now being sued by the family of an Israeli diamond magnate for claiming to be a member of the family by using the name Simon Leviev.
The real Leviev family accused Hayut of “making false representations as being the son of Lev Leviev and receiving numerous benefits (including material ones), cunningly and using false words, claiming to be a member of the Leviev Family, and that his family (Leviev) will pay and bear the costs of his benefits.”
“I am relieved that his real identity and actions have been globally exposed, and hopefully this will bring an end to his unscrupulous actions,” said Chagit Leviev, the daughter of Lev Leviev.
Tinder has officially banned Simon Leviev from the dating app.
“We have conducted internal investigations and can confirm Simon Leviev is no longer active on Tinder under any of his known aliases,” Tinder stated.
The platform has also added new guidelines entitled “Romance Scams: How to Protect Yourself Online,” noting to their users that scammers are using the app to prey on “vulnerable” people “looking for love.”
