Netflix’s Notorious ‘The Tinder Swindler’ Fraudster Simon Leviev Has Hollywood Aspirations
Over the past few weeks, one particular story has captivated the entire world. The Tinder Swindler is a true-crime documentary that has been making waves on Netflix, opening up conversations about the functionality of dating apps, the way that people craft their online identities—and the prevalence of scamming in a social media age. In the days following the show’s release, many fans have been diving deep to learn more about the man behind the story in The Tinder Swindler. And as it turns out, pop culture fans might be seeing more of him in the near future.
When did ‘The Tinder Swindler’ air on Netflix?
The Tinder Swindler dropped on Netflix in early February. The documentary, which was produced and created in Britain, tells the story of an alleged Israeli conman named Simon Leviev. The conman allegedly used the dating app Tinder in order to find people to manipulate and extort money from. Visceral and intense, The Tinder Swindler showcases the darker side of online dating—and cautions viewers against trusting people that they have only just met on any online platform.
The Tinder Swindler has gotten an incredible response from fans, with many turning to the documentary as both a true-crime story and a cautionary tale. Some experts have praised the documentary as fascinating, a perfect example of what happens when humans looking for meaningful social connections become too responsive to strangers. Psychology Today notes that the tale of Leviev is fascinating on a deep level, but has educational overtones as well.
What do pop culture fans know about Simon Leviev?
As The Tinder Swindler has become wildly popular, many pop culture fans have become interested in what ended up happening to Simon Leviev. As it turns out, Leviev was sentenced to prison for the fraud he committed in his home country of Israel in 2019. Still, Leviev wasn’t charged with any of the crimes that he allegedly committed against the women featured in the documentary. Ultimately, Leviev only served about five months out of his 19-month prison sentence—and was released in 2020.
Leviev has used various aliases over the course of his life, and according to People Magazine, he was born Shimon Hayut. The publication notes that Leviev ostensibly still lives in Israel and is very active on social media, regularly posting content to his Instagram pages. Leviev is banned from Tinder, following the release of the documentary – although, according to a new report from TMZ, he could be looking to get on people’s screens in a whole new way.
Simon Leviev allegedly wants a Hollywood career
Although Leviev isn’t receiving the best press, a TMZ report claims that he is actively considering a Hollywood career, and could be taking steps to make that happen. Sources note Leviev is working with a manager named Gina Rodriguez, and is interested in launching a dating show that would feature multiple women competing for his affections. Additionally, Leviev is said to be looking at options for a podcast—and he is interested in “clearing the air” regarding his true intentions, claiming that the Netflix documentary got his personality and motives all wrong.
While nothing official has been announced regarding Leviev’s future projects, fans should be on the lookout for the next move from the infamous “Tinder Swindler.” After all, if Leviev has shown anything, it is that he is resilient and easily able to bounce from one situation to the next with relative ease.
Most recently, TMZ reported Leviev is charging $20,000 to appear at nightclubs. He is also on the celebrity e-greeting service Cameo, charging $200 to $1,000 for a video.
