Simon Leviev, the notorious Israeli businessman known as the “Tinder Swindler,” has been arrested at Batumi Airport in Georgia after an Interpol Red Notice was issued for his detention.
The 35-year-old, whose real name is Shimon Yehuda Hayut, gained international infamy for allegedly defrauding multiple women he met through the dating app Tinder by posing as the heir to the Leviev diamond fortune.
Leviev’s scheme involved living a lavish lifestyle with private jets, luxury hotels, and expensive cars to earn victims’ trust. He persuaded them to lend him large sums of money by claiming he was in danger, defrauding victims out of an estimated £7.6 million (approximately $10 million).
Details surrounding the precise reasons for Leviev’s arrest in Georgia remain unclear. His lawyer stated they do not yet understand the grounds for his detention, despite Leviev having traveled freely around the world until now. Georgian authorities confirmed the arrest followed the Interpol Red Notice but have not disclosed which country requested his arrest or specific charges.
Leviev previously served prison time in Israel after being arrested in Greece in 2019 and convicted of fraud, forgery, and theft. He served five months of a 15-month sentence before early release due to COVID-19 measures.
Leviev’s notoriety surged after the 2022 Netflix documentary “The Tinder Swindler,” which detailed the elaborate romance scams he allegedly executed. He denies all allegations, calling his accusers “liars” and “paid actresses,” and plans to reveal his side of the story through an upcoming book and film.
The arrest in Georgia marks a significant development in the ongoing legal challenges surrounding Leviev’s international fraud allegations and his infamous role in one of the most high-profile online romance scams of recent years.
