Simon Leviev. Instagram/simonleviev8
As reported by The Jerusalem Post
At Batumi International Airport, Georgia, Simon Leviev, widely known by the nickname “the Tinder Swindler,” was detained. Local law enforcement confirmed the information after the suspect arrived in Batumi, where data gathering and the investigation, with Interpol’s involvement, are ongoing. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia also confirmed the arrest.
According to preliminary data, the circumstances of the detention have not been publicly disclosed yet. It is noted that the suspect is under the control of Georgian law enforcement authorities, and the investigation is ongoing within the framework of international cooperation.
Who is Simon Leviev? According to authoritative sources, he was born under another name – Shimon Yehuda Hayut – and he became one of the most notorious fraudsters in Europe, operating mainly during 2017–2019. Excerpts from materials attribute to him the swindling of about ten million dollars from several women.
The Tinder Swindler documentary series by Netflix in 2022 made Leviev a household name worldwide. In the footage, he portrayed himself as a successful entrepreneur and the heir to a prominent business dynasty, after which he again found himself on a wave of dubious schemes.
“It’s time for women to tell the truth.”
In response to the series’ release, Leviev denied all accusations and claimed that his involvement was to be only in the Netflix documentary, not in a real criminal case. He also expressed his views as a stance not connected to real cases, describing himself as only “an unmarried guy who was trying to meet women on Tinder.” Netflix later announced a full ban of his account on the platform.
“an unmarried guy who wanted to meet women on Tinder”.
In September 2025, information emerged that Leviev announced plans to write a book in which he promises to tell the truth about his life and machinations. Previously, in 2019, he was arrested in Greece and extradited to Israel on charges related to fraud, document forgery, and theft. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, but served only about five due to the onset of the pandemic.
In March 2024, close relatives of Leviev filed a criminal complaint, claiming that he harmed their reputation. It is also known that he is sought by Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom for a number of fraud- and document forgery-related cases.
At the moment, investigators continue to verify all data, awaiting official conclusions regarding the Batumi arrest and further legal steps. Meanwhile, in September 2025, information emerged about Leviev’s employment: he allegedly is working on a book that is meant to reveal his “truth” about life and the machinations.
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