The Tinder Swindler Review

You have to check out this crime documentary on Netflix called “The Tinder Swindler.” It’s a British true crime doc that tells the story of an Israeli conman named Simon Leviev. If you’re using dating apps, this is a must-watch. Simon used Tinder to connect with people and manipulate them into financing his lavish lifestyle. We’re not just talking about paying for dinners or a few outfits—this guy swindled thousands of dollars!

The documentary kicks off with Cecilie Fjellhoy from Norway, who was looking for love and dreamt of a fairytale ending. She had been on Tinder for seven years with over a thousand matches. I’ve been on Tinder for a few years and only had two matches—guess I’m not that trusting! Like many of us, she was hopeful to find her prince charming. Simon’s looks and the glamorous life he portrayed in his pictures and videos drew her in.

She met Simon at a fancy hotel, which made her feel a bit out of place, but she was thrilled to see he looked just like his pictures. From that moment, she was hooked. After their date, he invited her on a trip on his private jet. She jumped at the chance, blinded by the glitz and glamour, and threw all caution to the wind.

So, a little background about Simon. He was born Shimon Hayut and traveled all over Europe, pretending to be the son of a Russian-Israeli diamond mogul, Lev Leviev. Using Tinder, he reached out to women as Simon and tricked them into lending him money he had no intention of repaying. He treated this dating app like a lucrative business deal, rolling out the red carpet and creating the illusion of a fairytale life.

I’m not sure how long it was between dates before he claimed Cecilie as his girlfriend, but it seemed pretty short. However, it was long enough for him to plant the seed and lure her into his trap. Simon was a man of mystery—charming, dangerous, and enigmatic. Cecilie felt like she was living in a movie.

Next, we meet another woman, Pernilla Sjoholm. She was looking for a spontaneous man and found Simon’s profile. Just as he was about to set his trap, he bailed, and they decided to become friends. He had to shift gears to lay his trap with her. 

Again, he saw a potential problem and solved it like a business deal. He never lost sight of his goal to use her. After some time apart, when he knew she was drawn in, he asked her to move in with him. Here’s the kicker: he wasn’t even there when she viewed the apartment or moved in.

Eventually, he used the ruse that he was being targeted by his “enemies.” He sent the same messages and images to all the women, showing that he was attacked with a knife but saved by his bodyguard. He claimed he needed funds because his money was tied up due to a security breach and he couldn’t use his credit cards.

Hearing this, some of the women took out loans to help him. Yes, they took out loans to help this man out of a bind. He promised to pay them back, but that was a lie. He pretended to repay his victims by sending forged documents with fake bank transfers and then dumped them. He would also threaten them to get more money. He swindled about $10 million from women around the world.

Clearly, this man had a magical way with words. He could not only charm the pants off these women but also get into their bank accounts. How did he do it? Ever heard the saying, “robbing Peter to pay Paul”? That’s basically what he did. He wooed women with grand gifts and private jet trips using money he got from other women.

This documentary will captivate you just like Simon captivated these women. It’s surprising how well-traveled and educated they were, yet they still got swindled. 

Anyway, I highly recommend watching it. I’d give it 3 out of 5 acorns.