Tinder Swindler Launches New Dating App Following Fraud Scandal

Simon Leviev, the man famously known as the “Tinder Swindler” after being the subject of a viral Netflix documentary, is attempting a return to the digital dating market. Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, is reportedly promoting a new dating application that promises to be a “safe” environment for users to meet, despite his own history of orchestrating sophisticated romance scams.

Hayut gained international notoriety after the 2022 documentary exposed how he allegedly defrauded multiple women of millions of dollars. The victims reported that Hayut would lure them in by posing as a wealthy diamond mogul, lavishly spending money he had stolen from previous victims to maintain an illusion of extreme affluence. Once he gained their trust, he would stage elaborate emergencies—often claiming his life was in danger—to convince his dates to transfer large sums of money to his accounts.

Now, reports indicate that Hayut is leveraging his digital profile to pivot back into the technology sector. The new app, which claims to prioritize user safety and verification, is being marketed by the man who once weaponized dating apps to exploit vulnerable people. Industry analysts have expressed significant concern regarding the ethics of the launch, noting that the app’s purported focus on “safety” and “security” stands in stark contrast to the deceptive tactics used by its creator in the past.

Cybersecurity experts warn that users should approach this new platform with extreme caution. The features being advertised by Hayut’s team, such as identity verification and background checks, are standard industry tools that he previously bypassed or manipulated during his own schemes. Critics argue that a dating app built by someone accused of using the “con man playbook” poses a substantial risk to personal data and financial security.

Romance fraud remains one of the most persistent threats in the online dating landscape. According to international authorities, scammers often rely on building emotional intimacy quickly to manipulate their targets into sharing private financial information. The “Tinder Swindler” case became a global touchstone for this issue, highlighting how easily individuals can be deceived when social media profiles and digital communications are used to craft a false reality.

Legal experts point out that while Hayut served a prison sentence in Israel related to fraud charges—of which he was released early—he has not been prosecuted for the specific international allegations made by the women featured in the documentary. His ability to rebrand himself as an entrepreneur in the dating space underscores the ongoing challenges platforms face in banning bad actors across different services.

For those currently using online dating apps, security professionals offer several recommendations to stay safe. They advise users never to send money to someone they have not met in person, regardless of how convincing their story may be. Furthermore, users should perform “reverse image searches” on profile photos to see if they belong to other people or public figures and avoid moving conversations off the encrypted messaging platforms provided by the dating service.

As Hayut moves forward with his latest venture, the tech community continues to monitor whether regulatory bodies will intervene or if the market will ultimately reject an app associated with one of the most famous fraud cases in recent history. For now, the launch serves as a stark reminder of the importance of digital literacy and skepticism when navigating the modern online dating world. This is not financial advice.