The man once known worldwide as the “Tinder Swindler” is making news again—this time not for luxury jets or lavish hotels, but for an arrest at a European airport.
Simon Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, was taken into custody in Georgia after years of slipping past authorities.
Arrested at Batumi Airport
According to The Guardian, Leviev was detained on Sunday after stepping off a flight at Batumi International Airport.
His arrest came under an Interpol “red notice,” which allows international police to temporarily detain suspects until extradition details are worked out.
Officials have kept the exact charges quiet for now, but the arrest has already reignited global attention.
The Tinder Swindler’s Elaborate Scam
Between 2017 and 2019, Leviev carefully built an illusion that fooled women across Europe.
Posing as the wealthy son of a diamond tycoon, he persuaded victims to lend him money—funds he never paid back.
Investigators estimate the total losses surpassed $10 million, leaving women not only financially drained but emotionally devastated.
Living the High Life on Borrowed Money
Part of Leviev’s strategy was appearances. He surrounded himself with bodyguards, traveled on private jets, and whisked women away to luxury hotels for extravagant first dates.
This display of wealth made his stories seem believable, luring his victims deeper into what they thought were real relationships.
Netflix Brought the Story to Light
The Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler shed a spotlight on his methods, with victims bravely sharing their experiences.
They described how romance and glamour masked what was, at its core, a calculated fraud.
The story went viral and became one of the most infamous examples of catfishing in recent years.
Leviev’s Denials and Attempts at Reinvention
Despite mounting evidence, Leviev has stuck to his line: “I never defrauded anyone. I just used Tinder to meet women.”
In 2022, he even announced plans for a memoir, The Story Behind the Man, claiming it would reveal his side of the saga.
His insistence on innocence continues to divide public opinion.
Public Reactions Remain Split
Social media users are far from united. Some see his arrest as overdue justice for women whose lives were turned upside down.
Others argue the victims willingly lent him money, blurring the line between fraud and poor judgment.
Either way, Leviev’s story keeps sparking debate, ensuring that even behind bars, he hasn’t faded from the spotlight.