Who is Simon Leviev?
Simon Leviev, an Israeli national, gained notoriety as a Tinder scammer whose actions inspired the successful Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler.” He was detained in Georgia following an Interpol request based on a German lawsuit.
Background and Accusations
Leviev, 34 years old whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, faces financial fraud charges, particularly for luring women online to defraud them of money.
Detention and Release
Leviev was arrested in September at Batumi Airport, a Georgian coastal city bordering the Black Sea, following a German request after a complaint from a Berlin woman alleging she was defrauded of 50,000 euros after meeting him on Tinder.
He was held in a Kutaisi prison but was released “without conditions” after Germany withdrew its extradition request, according to his lawyer Mariam Koublachvili.
Case Closure
His lawyer stated, “The case was definitively closed,” as German prosecutors opened an investigation following a complaint from a Berlin woman claiming to have been defrauded by Leviev.
Leviev’s Scamming Activities
Between 2017 and 2019, Leviev allegedly posed as a wealthy heir on Tinder, convincing various women to lend him substantial sums of money that he never repaid.
His actions were the subject of several investigative journalism pieces. The Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler,” which detailed the stories of his victims, became a global success upon its 2022 release.
Extent of the Scam
Reports suggest that Leviev defrauded his victims of approximately 10 million US dollars across multiple countries.
Leviev’s Denial
In 2022, Leviev denied the allegations, stating to CNN that he only used Tinder to “meet girls.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Simon Leviev? An Israeli national accused of financial fraud, particularly for defrauding women he met on Tinder.
- Why was Leviev detained in Georgia? He was arrested following an Interpol request based on a German lawsuit after a Berlin woman reported being defrauded of 50,000 euros.
- What led to Leviev’s release? Germany withdrew its extradition request, leading to his release from a Kutaisi prison.
- What was the nature of Leviev’s alleged scams? He reportedly posed as a wealthy heir, convincing women to lend him substantial sums of money that he never repaid.
- How successful was Leviev’s scam? Reports suggest he defrauded victims of approximately 10 million US dollars across various countries.
- What is Leviev’s response to the allegations? He denied the accusations, claiming he only used Tinder to meet women.
