How A Guy Scammed $10,000,000 From Tinder Girls

Summary

This gripping story follows Cecilie Fjellhøy's journey as she falls for Simon Leviev, a seemingly wealthy and charming man she meets on Tinder. What begins as a fairytale romance quickly turns into a nightmare as Simon manipulates her into taking out massive loans to fund his extravagant lifestyle. As Cecilie discovers the dark truth, she learns that Simon is a con artist, using his charm and lies to swindle women across Europe. This tale of deceit and betrayal unfolds as Cecilie and other victims expose Simon's criminal empire.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cecilie Fjellhøy matched with a man named Simon Leviev on Tinder, who appeared to live a luxurious life and was well-traveled.
• 😀 Simon Leviev charmed Cecilie by showing her a lavish lifestyle and invited her on a private jet trip to Bulgaria, claiming he was the 'Prince of Diamonds'.
• 😀 Simon convinced Cecilie that he worked in the diamond business and was the son of Lev Leviev, a billionaire in the diamond industry.
• 😀 As the relationship developed, Simon used charm and manipulation, leading Cecilie to take out loans and max out credit cards to fund his supposed escape from dangerous enemies.
• 😀 Despite the promises of repayment, Simon continuously asked for more money from Cecilie, leading her into a deep financial crisis, accumulating hundreds of thousands in debt.
• 😀 While Cecilie was being conned, Pernilla Sjöholm was also swindled by Simon, who pretended to be wealthy and continuously manipulated multiple women at once.
• 😀 Simon used Cecilie’s money to fund extravagant trips with other women, maintaining the illusion of wealth and power while borrowing from one victim to pay another.
• 😀 Cecilie eventually realized Simon’s lies and, after discovering he had been conning other women, turned to media outlet VG to expose him.
• 😀 VG's investigation revealed that Simon was actually Shimon Hayut, a man previously convicted of similar crimes in Finland, using a fake identity to defraud women across Europe.
• 😀 Despite Simon's manipulative tactics, Pernilla eventually joined forces with VG to capture footage of Simon, helping to expose his fraudulent activities to the public.

Q & A

What motivates Cecilie to meet Simon Leviev in person?

Cecilie is initially motivated by Simon's impressive online profile, which portrays him as handsome, well-traveled, and successful. After verifying his identity through his social media and diamond company, she agrees to meet him for coffee.

How does Simon convince Cecilie to travel with him to Bulgaria?

Simon invites Cecilie to travel with him to Bulgaria on his private jet, claiming it's a chance for them to continue getting to know each other. He convinces her by presenting himself as a successful businessman in the diamond industry, which adds allure to the proposition.

What is the significance of the 'Prince of Diamonds' title in Simon's story?

Simon claims to be the 'Prince of Diamonds,' suggesting his father, Lev Avnerovich Leviev, is the 'King of Diamonds'—a wealthy and influential figure in the diamond industry. This story is part of Simon's manipulation to create a glamorous and believable persona, enticing women into trusting him.

What red flag does Cecilie ignore during her trip to Bulgaria?

A red flag Cecilie ignores is Simon's ex-wife and child joining them on the trip. Simon tells her it's no big deal, but the presence of his ex-wife and child should have raised suspicions about Simon's true intentions and lifestyle.

How does Simon manipulate Cecilie into taking out loans for him?

Simon convinces Cecilie to take out loans by telling her he is in danger due to enemies in the diamond industry. He claims he needs money to stay safe and promises to pay her back once he is in the clear. Over time, he pressures her into taking out more loans, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Why does Cecilie start to doubt Simon as their relationship progresses?

Cecilie becomes increasingly worried as Simon asks her for more and more money while becoming distant. She also faces mounting pressure from creditors as the debts pile up, making her question whether Simon is truly who he says he is.

How do the authorities and banks respond to Cecilie’s claims about Simon?

The authorities and banks are largely unhelpful in Cecilie’s case. The banks press her for repayment but do not investigate Simon's fraudulent activities. Similarly, the police are unable to take action since Simon hasn't technically committed a crime in their eyes—since Cecilie willingly took out the loans.

What is the outcome of Cecilie taking her story to the media?

When Cecilie shares her story with Norwegian media outlet VG, they begin an investigation and uncover startling details about Simon's con. They find that Simon, whose real identity is Shimon Hayut, has been scamming women across Europe by using money from one victim to fund his lifestyle and deceive others.

How does Pernilla's experience with Simon differ from Cecilie’s?

Pernilla's experience is less intimate than Cecilie’s. While Pernilla travels with Simon and spends time with him, their relationship remains platonic. Pernilla is unaware of Simon's fraudulent activities and even lends him money, believing he is in danger. Unlike Cecilie, she is not manipulated into taking out loans in her name.

What ultimately leads to Simon's exposure as the 'Tinder Swindler'?

Simon is exposed after Pernilla, who had been deceived by him, decides to help VG journalists. She sets him up by meeting him in Munich, where VG captures the first footage of Simon. This, combined with the ongoing investigation by VG, eventually leads to Simon's identification as Shimon Hayut, a serial con artist.