Edited by: TJVNews.com
Seems like Israeli conman, Shimon Hayut, a/k/a Simon Leviev, just can’t stay out of the headlines. Hayut, was the subject of Netlfix’s true crime documentary “The Tinder Swindler” which has garnered huge audiences since its premier.
People Magazine has reported that Hayut/Leviev is now facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit initiated by Israeli-Russian diamond tycoon Lev Leviev and his family. They claim that Hayut allegedly impersonated them and used their last name to enrich himself, according to a report on the popsugar.co.uk web site.
Hayut/Leviev allegedly deceived and exploited women he met on the dating app. The Netflix series follows the story of a group of women who were conned out of millions of dollars by Hayut to fund his lavish lifestyle. Many have speculated that Hayut has allegedly swindled over $10 million from people around the globe as he convinced women to loan him money. Hayut is the son of El Al Airlines chief Rabbi Yohanan Hayut,
Hayut would first give the women lavish experiences, staying in five-star hotels, eating at fancy restaurants, and flying in private jets.
After several weeks of being a “perfect boyfriend,” Hayut would ask to borrow money because of the situation he found himself in the dangerous world of diamond dealing.
He would coerce the women by sending photos of bloody clothes or his injured bodyguard in the back of an ambulance. Given his previous spending and apparently luxurious lifestyle, the women believed him and sent money, many times through bank loans.
Hayut was able to develop a complex Ponzi scheme in which he would spend hundreds of thousands of money that he swindled from a previous woman on his current victim.
According to court documents obtained by People Magazine, the lawsuit alleges that “for a long time, he Simon Leviev has been making false representations as being the son of Lev Leviev and receiving numerous benefits (including material ones).” The lawsuit was filed in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Popsugar also reported that the Lev Leviev family added in their lawsuit that Hayut has been “cunningly using false words, claiming to be a member of the Leviev Family, and that his family will pay and bear the costs of his benefits.”
In December 2019, Hayut was convicted of fraud, theft, and forgery and sentenced to 15 months in prison, but he was released early after serving a mere five months, according to the Popsugar report.
The attorney representing the Lev Leviev family is Guy Ophir. According to a statement from him that was obtained by People Magazine, more legal action may be forthcoming. Ophir said in his statement: “This legal action is only the beginning of a number of lawsuits that my firm is currently working on. In the next faze we will file a monetary suit against Hayut and any other affiliate that will work with him, including some websites that have Joint ventures with Hayut and/or have offered to buy cameos from him. Anyone that will try to capitalize from this scheme will be sued.”
For his part, Leviev has denied the allegations against him and said that they are “completely made up.”
The Jewish Voice previously reported that Hayut, 30, is cashing in on his newfound Netflix fame by selling personalized greeting videos for $225 on Cameo, according to a report in the Daily Mail of the UK.
On his web site, he has launched his own merch line, according to a report in the New York Post. He wrote on his web site, “My enemies are after me, buy a t-shirt.” The Post reported that one design shows his face and the line, “If she loves you, she’ll take out a loan for you.”
The Daily Mail reported that after being exposed in Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, released earlier this month, the conman is now using his infamy to flog clips on video-sharing app Cameo.
The report indicated that he mocks his crimes in the videos, giving male users tips on improving their dating profiles to attract more women.
The Daily Mail reported that in one clip, Leviev says: ‘I saw your profile on Tinder, well my friend, you need to change your photos. I think you can do better there, put some photos of friends, of animals, girls love it. Just be yourself.’
