Even after the events depicted in the recent Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler”,
Simon Leviev has found new ways to scam himself into relevance.
From getting a second chance in real estate to finding a new girlfriend, here's what the
camera neglected to show you about The Tinder Swindler.
The use of the Leviev family name was a major part of the Tinder Swindler's fabricated backstory.
Simon legally changed his name from Shimon Hayut and adopted the surname of the real
Leviev family, who made their fortune in the Israeli diamond industry, to convince the
women he defrauded that he was wealthy.
As the Netflix documentary depicts, he would spend weeks taking his victims on lavish trips
and making lofty promises.
Eventually, he would fake an emergency and claim he needed huge sums of money to stay
safe.
The real Leviev family is understandably outraged by what the con artist has managed to pull
off with their name.
A company spokesperson has explained to Newsweek that there is absolutely no genuine connection
between the Levievs' company, LLD Diamonds, and Simon Leviev.
The family went on to note that they filed a police report against Simon Leviev in 2019
after learning of his actions.
He was subsequently arrested the same year and sentenced to 15 months in prison.
In February 2022, Rolling Stone reported that the Leviev family is suing the imposter and
are still deeply offended by the abuse of their name.
"He's a very sophisticated crook."
It seems that defrauding women on dating apps isn't the only wrong that Leviev is guilty
of.
In December 2020, The Times Of Israel revealed that he allegedly pretended to be a medical
worker so that he could receive a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine early.
The incident became widely known after he posted a video of himself receiving the shot
on social media.
Hayut received his vaccine at the Clalit medical center in Israel.
According to the Times, he was initially denied entry into the center but was eventually able
to enter with a group of medical workers.
The health center issued a statement confirming Leviev's claim, and noted,
"As soon as it became clear that it was an impersonation, we began to investigate the
incident, including refreshing instructions on the matter.
It is regrettable that there are people who are harming the trust shown by staff and we
condemn this act."
Leviev has denied the allegations, issuing a characteristically entitled statement saying
that he couldn't have received the shot then as someone of his means had no need to wait
in lines.
One particularly confusing aspect of Simon Leviev's history is that there are still organizations
and outlets willing to give him the opportunity to disprove what so many believe to be true.
For example, in 2021 Vents Magazine published a series of tips from Simon Leviev, who they
describe as a "millionaire of repute" with an myriad of success in the real estate industry,
While the magazine makes note of the Netflix film about Leviev's reported behavior, that
doesn't seem to detract from his apparent real estate expertise.
In the interview, Leviev offers advice for people who are just beginning a career in
the world of real estate.
In one tip, he advises those interested in the field to get to know people who can help
them out.
He cautions readers to choose their friends wisely, and that the network they build could
make or break their career in the industry.
While the Tinder Swindler claims to be a member of Israel's famous Leviev family, his actual
father is Rabbi Yohanan Hayut.
The Times Of Israel reports Hayut works as the rabbi for El Al Airlines, and has even
been accused of engaging in fraud himself.
Hayut was questioned by police in late 2019, and was accused of introducing potential business
contacts to his son and allowing those people to believe he was actually a Leviev.
Police also believed that Hayut may have even helped Leviev leave Israel back in 2017.
While reviewing text messages purportedly sent by the rabbi, authorities found a text
that appears to be in reference to Leviev and the allegations against him.
The text reads in part,
"Believe me, it was not a simple operation to get him out; and believe me, he is bringing
in results that no one brought, so, my dear, [I] ask of you to give him what he needs."
One man, who claims he was defrauded by both Hayut and his son, told the Israeli news source
that he wanted both Simon Leviev and his father held accountable for their fraudulent acts
against him.
According to the Netflix documentary, Leviev has been estranged from his mother since his
youth.
"I have absolutely no contact with him.
I have nothing to do with him.
I've not had contact with him since he was 18 years old."
Allegations of fraud have been made against Leviev for well over a decade.
While the Netflix documentary explores relationships Leviev began with women dating back to 2018,
this is far from the first time he'd gotten into legal trouble.
Haaretz and The Times Of Israel report that Leviev was forced to leave Israel in 2011
after being charged with theft, forgery, and fraud for trying to cash stolen checks.
He was able to move to Finland following his run from Israel, and reportedly began meeting
and defrauding women there.
After returning to and then leaving Israel for a second time in 2017, he legally changed
his last name from Hayut to Leviev.
This swap is reportedly the action that made it easier for him to carry on portraying himself
as a member of the massively wealthy diamond family.
However, he told Israel's Channel 12 that he had no intention of falsifying his parentage
by changing his name, and anyone who thought otherwise was just conjecturing.
While a pretty hefty case has been built against Leviev, not everyone who knows him believes
the allegations.
In fact, his girlfriend, Kate Konlin, has been more than happy to share just how much
she supports Leviev.
The pair sat down for a joint interview with Inside Edition in February 2022, and the 24-year-old
Ukrainian-born model defended her boyfriend and denied the allegations raised in the Netflix
documentary.
Konlin was quick to affirm her belief that Leviev has been telling the truth about his
past.
In a separate interview with Mako in 2021, Konlin explained the two met up after four
months of chatting via Instagram.
She claimed that Leviev was honest with her from the beginning of their journey together.
Konlin went on to insist that the amount of money that Leviev is accused of having stolen
is comparable to the amount he spends on gifts for her on any given day.
She went on to explain that the fact that he can spend such impressive amounts of money
at the drop of a hat indicates that he has no reason to steal from anyone.
The Netflix documentary about Simon Leviev's alleged exploits largely focuses on the stories
of three women: Cecilie Fjelljøy, Pernilla Sjoholm, and Ayleen Charlotte.
Leviev met each of these women on Tinder and proceeded to woo each of them for a handful
of weeks by flying them around the world.
He managed to gain each of their trust and affection, which he then abused to scam them
out of thousands of dollars.
However, it seems that there are more victims out there.
Radar Online reported that the publication had been in touch with another victim who
has asked to remain anonymous due to the vicious reactions the public has thrown at them.
As she put it,
"The common reaction to this is that we are just a bunch of stupid money digging women
who deserved this."
Felicity Morris, who directed the Netflix documentary, told The Guardian that there
are definitely more victims who didn't want to make their stories public.
When Leviev was finally apprehended by Greek authorities in July 2019, he was wanted in
Israel, Sweden, England, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, according to Esquire.
"He was still a free man, even though we knew that he was reported to the police in at least
7 different countries."
He was sent back to his native Israel, and remained insistent that he didn't commit the
crimes he was accused of.
In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, Leviev blamed his victims.
He conjectured that they chose to spread such damning information due to heartbreak, and
claimed that they had a positive experience while spending time with him.
Pernilla Sjöholm told Esquire that she and others have pursued legal action against Leviev
at the European Court of Justice, but to no avail.
A woman who requested to be anonymous said more or less the same, explaining that she
had been told by Interpol that nothing could be done against Leviev as long as he remains
in Israel.
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