The Shocking Story of 'The Tinder Swindler'

Humans are social creatures, and with the invention of dating apps, love and companionship could be just one swipe away. Three unsuspecting women thought Simon Leviev could be their match until he conned them out of thousands of dollars, all through Tinder^®. 

‘The Tinder Swindler’

A tale of manipulation and extravagant deception, this story (and subsequent Netflix^® documentary, “The Tinder Swindler”) is a stark reminder of the dangers that can unfold on a digital screen.

Photo courtesy of @simon_leviev_official, Instagram.

Before private jets, designer clothes, and the alias “Simon Leviev,” there was Shimon Hayut, a young Israeli man with a penchant for deception. Hayut’s criminal history stretches back to his teenage years, culminating in a 2011 conviction for theft, fraud, and forgery.  

Shiny Object Syndrome

In 2017, Hayut reinvented himself online, going by the name Simon Leviev. Tinder became his hunting ground, with his profile curated into a masterpiece of manipulation. Photos dripping with wealth from private jets, luxury cars, and extravagant parties painted him as the son of diamond tycoon Lev Leviev, heir to a billion-dollar fortune. This elaborate lie was the foundation of his Tinder con.

Leviev would affectionately shower his matches, whisking them away on whirlwind dates funded with money he had already swindled from previous victims. According to the Netflix documentary, Cecilie Fjellhøy, one of Leviev’s victims, described being flown on a private jet to Bulgaria for a first date - a tactic employed to establish his fabricated wealth and sweep her off her feet.

Once Leviev established trust with his victims, the charade turned sinister. Leviev fabricated elaborate stories about threats from enemies within the diamond trade. These fictional dangers became the foundation for his pleas for financial assistance. 

He’d convince his victims, like Fjellhøy, to max out credit cards and take out hefty loans to “help” him, promising swift repayments that never actually materialized. Doctored bank statements showing massive deposits added a layer of credibility to his lies.

Leviev wasn’t a one-woman show. The documentary reveals how he juggled multiple relationships, using the same tactics and even recycled voice messages to manipulate his victims. While the exact number of women targeted remains unclear, the documentary highlights the stories of Cecilie Fjellhøy, Pernilla Sjöholm, and Ayleen Charlotte, each bearing the emotional and financial scars of Leviev’s deception.

House of Cards

As the web of debt grew and the fabricated threats became more outlandish, Leviev’s victims began to suspect foul play. Fortunately, they didn’t stay silent. Fjellhøy, Sjöholm, and Charlotte connected through social media, realizing they weren’t alone. 

Fueled by a shared sense of injustice, they banded together. They contacted journalists and investigators, determined to expose Leviev and prevent him from harming others.

Breaking News

Their courage paid off. In 2019, an investigative report by the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang exposed Leviev’s true identity and criminal past. The story gained international traction, culminating in the documentary that brought his story to the forefront of mainstream media attention.

Leviev served a short jail sentence and has been banned from Tinder. Still, the women’s tenacity exposed him and empowered others to be vigilant in digital dating. The story of the ‘Tinder Swindler’ illustrates that behind those carefully curated profiles and charming personas, everything online isn’t always as it seems, simultaneously reminding us that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

References: What is Simon Leviev, Netflix’s Tinder Swindler, doing now? He posed as a billionaire’s son, conned dozens of women out of thousands and has since deleted his Instagram | The Tinder Swindler review – the gobsmacking true story of an internet con artist | Who Is the Tinder Swindler? | ‘The Tinder Swindler’ True Story: Everything to Know About Netflix’s New True Crime Documentary