Tinder Swindler to release own dating app after saying victim 'just wanted to be famous'

Tinder Swindler to release own dating app after saying victim 'just wanted to be famous' Simon Leviev, who became the subject of the wildely popular Netflix documentary 'The Tinder Swindler' in 2022, has spoken about his future plans over four years on from the programme's release The Tinder Swindler has announced plans to release his own dating app after being banned from the platform where he gained notoriety. Simon Leviev, 35, was the subject of the Netflix documentary released in February 2022, which revealed how he allegedly conned around six women out of millions of pounds via Tinder over a two year period from 2017 to 2019. Leviev famously claimed to be the heir to a billionaires’ fortune, would reportedly show off with a lavish lifestyle before later claiming in his conversations with women on the app that he was at threat and then ask for cash. The documentary, that also itself became a major hit, led to him and the women at the centre of the story becoming celebrities overnight, though for different reasons. At the end of the programme it said Leviev had been ostracised by his family was unable to see his then 10-year-old daughter. Leviev was convicted of theft, fraud and forgery of documents and sentenced to 15 months in Israeli prison in 2019. The charges related to a 2011 case where he stole checkbooks from people he worked for—including a family he was babysitting for—before fleeing the country under a fake passport. He has never been charged for the allegations made in the Netflix documentary. He is now a free man and shows little remorse for his alleged victims. One of them, Pernilla Sjöholm claims to have lost around £50,000 after handing her life savings to "friend" Leviev – who claimed he was in danger and couldn't use his credit cards. Of the Swede, Leviev simply told the Times that she “wanted to be famous”, a claim that Pernilla has denied and described as “absurd”. He also brazenly dismissed his relationship with Cecilie Fjellhoy, another victim, as "just a hook-up". “She thought she’d hit the jackpot, she’d met Prince Charming," he said. "With all respect, she’s not exactly Angelina Jolie." Cecilie says she lost approximately £200,000 through the same set of lies from Simon that Pernilla encountered. The emotional impact of losing the money led to her spending three weeks in a psychiatric facility. Leviev, now a father-of-two, admitted later in the interview that he has reconciled with his parents and that whilst he was banned from dating app that made him famous, that he was going to set up his own one instead. He said: “I have my own dating app coming up.” Furthermore, despite his time in prison, he appeared glad that the Netflix documentary had occurred, brazenly claiming that both he and his alleged victims, that also include Cecilie Fjellhoy and Ayleen Charlotte, had all done well out it. He said: “I’m happy to see them doing well. They’re cashing out. I’m cashing out as well. The Tinder Swindler is the best thing that ever happened to me. Call me swindler, call me what you want. I don’t care. At the end of the day, I’m laughing all the way to the bank.” Following the dropping of charges against him last year, Leviev does not face a case in court for the first time in 15 years. Meanwhile Pernilla and Cecilie, who are now both motivational speakers, spoke at their annoyance at Leviev’s reinvention given what Pernilla described as the “devastating human cost” fraud can have on someone.