Notorious Tinder Conman Walks Free
Simon Leviev, the infamous fraudster at the centre of the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, has been released from prison in Georgia after serving just two months. The Israeli national, whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, was arrested on September 15 at Batumi Airport following an Interpol request.
A Sudden Release Without Conditions
Leviev's release came after German authorities unexpectedly withdrew their extradition request. His lawyer, Mariam Kublashvili, confirmed he was freed 'without any conditions', meaning he did not have to post bail, sign legal undertakings, or accept any travel restrictions. Kublashvili stated the case against him was fully closed, attributing the decision to a 'lack of evidence'.
The German case was initiated after a woman in Berlin alleged Leviev defrauded her of nearly £44,000 after they connected on Tinder. Had he been convicted, he could have faced a prison sentence of up to ten years.
The Elaborate Tinder Swindler Scheme
Leviev, 35, rose to notoriety for allegedly scamming an estimated £7.6 million from multiple women between 2017 and 2019. His method involved creating a sophisticated false online persona, posing as the son of a diamond mogul to lure victims.
The Netflix film detailed how he would woo women with glamorous dates involving private jets and bodyguards. After gaining their trust, he would claim his credit cards were not working and persuade them to open new cards in their own names for him to use, leaving them with massive debts.
One of his alleged victims, Pernilla Sjöholm, previously told Metro that the experience was devastating. 'I lost everything and felt like there was no future,' she said, describing how she was blamed for not realising he was a fraud. She lost friends and struggled with the betrayal and shame for over two years.
In a past statement, Leviev denied all allegations, calling his accusers 'liars' and 'paid actresses', and claimed the truth would be revealed in an upcoming book and film.
