Netflix’s New Documentary Brings Attention to Online Scams

Shimon Hayut on a private airplane.

Photo by Shimon Hayut

Shimon Hayut on a private airplane.

Netflix’s new documentary, The Tinder Swindler has brought great attention to scams that occur online. The documentary shows how Shimon Hayut, who went by the name “Simon Leviev,” scammed an estimated $10 million out of Tinder users. 

Shimon Hayut, acted as the “son” of Lev Leviev, a diamond billionaire. Shimon would then lure his victims by pretending to be deeply in love with them and then ask them for money. He would claim he was in danger and needed money to get away from his enemies, who were chasing him. After getting the money from one woman he would go onto the next, and that was his pattern. All while doing this, he would finance his lavish lifestyle by; flying private, eating at expensive restaurants, and wearing expensive clothing brands.

When the documentary was released, Shimon was officially banned from Tinder. “We have conducted internal investigations and can confirm Simon Leviev is no longer active on Tinder under any of his known aliases,” Tinder said in a statement to Variety. Tinder has also released new guidelines titled “Romance Scams: How to Protect Yourself Online.”

Currently, Hayut is hoping to get a career in the entertainment industry in Hollywood. He has been looking into hosting a dating show and/or writing a book.