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By John Ogunsemore
Israeli con artist Shimon Hayut, better known as Simon Leviev and the subject of Netflix documentary ‘The Tinder Swindler,’ was arrested by Georgian authorities at Batumi International Airport on Sunday.
The 34-year-old fraudster, who gained notoriety for posing as a wealthy diamond heir to swindle women he met on dating apps out of millions of dollars, was detained upon arrival in the Black Sea resort city.
The exact grounds for the arrest remain unclear, even to his own lawyer, though it is linked to an international warrant issued by Interpol.
Hayut’s detention comes amid ongoing scrutiny of his activities since his release from prison in Israel in 2020, where he served five months of a 15-month sentence for fraud and was also ordered to pay $43,289 in compensation to the victims and a fine of about $5,771 for having a false passport.
He has faced additional legal troubles, including extradition requests from multiple countries over alleged scams.
Just weeks prior to his arrest, Hayut reportedly claimed in Dubai that he would “never see prison again,” a statement that has drawn renewed attention in light of the recent events.
Georgia’s interior ministry confirmed the arrest but provided no further details on potential charges or the originating country for the Interpol Red Notice.
The Israeli is expected to face extradition proceedings, which could return him to face justice in one of several nations pursuing him for fraud-related offences.
The case first exploded into public view with the 2022 Netflix film, which detailed how Hayut, between 2017 and 2019, allegedly defrauded victims he met through Tinder by fabricating emergencies and requesting loans he never repaid, amassing an estimated $10 million in ill-gotten gains.
Hayut denies being a fraud, claiming he is a legitimate businessman who amassed his wealth through bitcoin.
Victims from Norway, Sweden, and elsewhere have since campaigned for stronger action against him.
