Netflix’s latest true-crime documentary, “The Tinder Swindler,” uncovers an unbelievable tell-tale drama of fraud, manipulation, and string of financial crimes orchestrated by Shimon Hayut, (a.k.a. Simon Levieve). He’s an Israel-born con artist who misused the app Tinder to defraud women, posing as a diamond mogul’s uber-rich son. The events narrated in the film might seem hard to believe at first, and at times even look made-up. But the film nevertheless raises a dire, legitimate question: how do we trust people in this new-age digital world, and keep them from breaking into our vulnerability?
Are Dating Apps Safe? Have they Ever Been?
Whether online dating apps are safe anymore, or have ever been so, is a complex debate; however, it seems Netflix might have a convincing answer—”The Tinder Swindler,” a recent documentary film directed by Felicity Morris. True accounts of people being conned on Internet dating sites is something we usually read in the news; but unless a global menace like that is captured in the big screen, the world doesn’t really take notice. And the problem grows tenfold, no, 10 million fold, when you have Simon Levieve on your dating-app screen, patiently waiting for a right swipe from you, or so we have seen in the film.
According to estimates, Levieve duped multiple women globally of nearly $10 million largely via Tinder. The the three most significant people among the victims were Norwegian student Cecilie Fjellhoy, Swedish marketing executive Pernilla Sjoholm, and Dutch fashion-professional Ayleen Charlotte; they all who fell victim to Simon’s tricks and the false persona he created to appear irresistible to women.
What’s bizarre to see, however, is how law, media, and justice only took notice of his crime trail after damage to these women was already done and they were dealing with the repercussions. The delay of police and media intervention is even more noteworthy here; Levieve reportedly committed financial fraud in multiple geographies and time-zones, and with big finance companies involved.
Whether online dating apps are safe anymore, or have ever been so, is a complex debate…”
The Victims Make the Film; a Bold Documentary
Nevertheless, how the makers of the film managed to interview the three women is undoubtedly a high-stakes arrangement. Here the three innocent women unapologetically narrate their experiences with Simon and his fake-show image that carried on for years. It’s something that earns the film a lot of credibility in its substance. Personally, I’ve seen the likes of such bold interviews only in other recent Netflix documentaries including “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich” and “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator.”
Ayleen Charlotte, one of the victims conned by Shimon Hayut. (Photo: Netflix).
“The Tinder Swindler” tries hard to look convincing with original footage, media recordings, and photographs from those involved in the events. However, what we miss in the film is more evidence from other sources. Something more than mobile chat histories could have probably added more weight and gravity to the story. At times, it feels somewhat tiring to believe a story with only limited cellphone evidence at your disposal to back it up.
Examining the Notion of Trust
For those who have followed the news recently, it’s been interesting to see a flood of articles on Simon Levieve and his notorious history surfaced on the Internet only after this film debuted on Netflix. It’s crazy in every sense to see a person getting away with million-dollar swindling for so long and living a plus-sized life off other people’s money with no regrets. The film captures Simon’s long-running exploits well.
Notwithstanding its fairly straightforward construction, “The Tinder Swindler” effortlessly circles back to the question of trust in our lives; this is driven largely by split-second choices in a fast-paced world, and the long-term consequences that follow. It’s unfortunate to know about such devastating crimes still happening in the developed world; it’s equally empowering to see them coming to light through films.
“The Tinder Swindler” is currently available to watch on Netflix via subscription.
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