‘Tinder Swindler’ Arrested in Georgia at Interpol‘s Request
Shimon Hayut, the Israeli man known as the “Tinder Swindler” following the release of a Netflix documentary detailing his elaborate scams, has been arrested in Georgia. the arrest occurred at the Batumi airport, a city on the Black Sea near the Turkish border, according to reports.
The Georgian Minister of the Interior confirmed the arrest to the French news agency AFP, stating Hayut was detained “at the request of Interpol,” but provided no further details regarding the charges. hayut gained notoriety for defrauding women across Europe out of an estimated $10 million between 2017 and 2019, posing as Simon Leviev, the son of a Russian diamond dealer, and manipulating them into providing large sums of money under false pretenses.This latest arrest raises questions about the scope of ongoing investigations and potential new victims.
Hayut operated primarily through the dating app Tinder, cultivating relationships with women before claiming financial hardship and soliciting funds, promising reimbursement that never materialized.Victims in Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands were among those targeted. He funded a lavish lifestyle – including private jets, luxury hotels, and expensive dining – with money obtained from his victims, bolstering the illusion of wealth and credibility.
Previously arrested in Greece in 2019 and extradited to Israel, Hayut served a brief prison sentence for fraud before being released. The circumstances surrounding this new Interpol request and potential extradition remain unclear.
