Remember the 2022 Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler? Israeli-born Shimon Hayut, known to many women on Tinder as Simon Leviev, posed as the son of “the Diamond King” Lev Leviev while operating a robust Ponzi scheme. He used charm, gifts, and exclusive travel opportunities to woo women before turning around and manipulating them into financing his extravagant lifestyle. All that worldwide swindling allegedly earned him $10 million.
One of the victims, Cecilie Fjellhøy, asserted that Simon first lured her into meeting in person with a private jet trip, asked her to move into a luxury apartment with him, and eventually asked if he could use her credit card to pay for his lifestyle after “attacks” from “enemies”. She obliged. After her Platinum AmEx was maxed out, he persuaded her to take out a $25,000 cash loan…which he then spent at a nightclub. Through their entire “relationship,” Simon racked up a $200,000 tab of debt left on Cecilie’s doorstep.
Romance Scams Break Your Heart and Your Bank Account
Women (and men) fall for catfishing and romance scams at unfortunately high rates. While not every case is as serious as the crimes of a serial scammer like the Tinder Swindler, romance scams contribute to one of the highest financial tolls related to digital crime.
In 2015, the FBI reported over $230 million in financial losses from 12,500 victims (an average of $18,400 per person), but in recent times, things have gotten much worse. That number jumped to…
