Beware! Your future Tinder lover is probably the worst person ever.
Netflix’s latest documentary, “The Tinder Swindler,” premiered in early February, unmistakably wrecking the month of love with a brutal punch. You know that hot guy you’ve been messaging about hugs and kisses and all things romance? It’s probably a millionaire about to destroy your life.
The film follows the story of Cecilie Fjellhøy, Pernilla Sjöholm, and Ayleen Charlotte, three of the many victims who were catfished and lied to in a Tinder scandal that involved millions of dollars. Each share their experiences falling for 31-year-old Simon Leviev, an Israeli man with multiple names who claimed to be the son of businessman Lev Leviev, who has a $1 billion net worth.
Leviev, legally known as Shimon Hayut, allegedly used three identities to engage in fraudulent activities between 2017 and 2019. Among these activities, he was and still is a fugitive, on the move and constantly seeking his next victim through the online world of dating.
Leviev is known for his ability to capture women’s attention with his kind words and messages. “Good morning, beautiful.” “I can’t wait to start a family with you.” “You’re the one made for me.” While one woman was waiting for him to reply to her text message, another would be waiting to be picked up at the airport with flowers in hand.
The director of the film, Felicity Morris, capitalized on manifesting raw proof of messages, phone calls, and pictures that were shared through the instant messaging application WhatsApp. This component was important as viewers were able to see the horror of Leviev’s actions and in what ways he tricked Fjellhøy, Sjöholm, and Charlotte.
Compared to other documentaries, “The Tinder Swindler” kept the ball rolling the entire time. As each victim shared their experience, it felt as if the scenes were being played out in real-time, unfolding right in front of the viewer’s eyes. There was no option to pause and come back because every moment threw a new twist and turn.
Sjöholm explained her Tinder motive by talking about how she wanted a man to compliment her independent spirit to travel and go on adventures. She happened to swipe right on Leviev because he looked nice, fun, and was attractive, three characteristics that proved to be accurate upon meeting him for the first time.
While it seems easy to scope out red flags at the beginning of a relationship, Leviev had none. He never did anything to make these women question their relationship. That is, until months in the relationship passed and he had each of them hooked. Smart man, right?
Charlotte didn’t find out about Leviev’s true identity until an article was published in the Norwegian tabloid paper, “Verdens Gang” (VG), where Fjellhøy and Sjöholm came forth to seek justice and warn other women about him.
“The only thing that we can do is to make the VG piece as big as possible to get his face out there because if people would know who he is and recognize his face, he can’t do this anymore,” said Sjöholm.
But many of Leviev’s victims suffered an extreme backlash after coming forth to share their experiences. They were seen as “golddiggers,” only looking for men with money.
All three women share a similar story and Morris showed the ways in which they intertwined, touching on how easy it is to become swindled in an online romance. While not all are bad, looking at the experiences that Fjellhøy, Sjöholm, and Charlotte went through can help prevent something more severe from happening.
Despite the evil lurking on online dating apps and sites, Morris doesn’t pressure viewers to delete their accounts or turn away from online dating. She instead exemplifies how easy it is to be catfished in a generation that praises technology. Online dating doesn’t always end catastrophically but it is important to be cautious and mindful about those you communicate with.
Victim Fjellhøy admits that even after the horrific scandal, she returns to Tinder to find the man of her dreams. She emphasizes the idea that it’s not the app that is bad, but some of the people who use it. In other words, don’t trust someone until you know the real version of themselves.
Leviev was sentenced to 15 months in prison but only served five months in the end, on account of good behavior. He remains a free man today and is active on his Instagram account, @simon_leviev_official, where he posts daily threats targeting Netflix as well as VG, claiming the allegations against him are all false.
“The Tinder Swindler” is a terrific documentary, drawing in viewers of all ages who understand the pertinent hold that technology has on many. It is shocking, humorous, and emotionally captivating. Watch with a sincere heart and have respect for the women who were willing to speak up about their brutal experiences.
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