I'm still traumatised & needed antidepressants – Tinder Swindler's victims reveal how life is now 10 years on
Posing as a billionaire diamond heir, he conned them an
8
Simon Leviev used Tinder to seduce and con women out of an estimated £7.4 million
Credit: Instagram
8
Pernilla Sjoholm and Cecilie Fjellhoy – victims of tinder swindler Simon Leviev
Credit: Pernilla Sjoholm Instagram
8
Tinder Swindler boasts luxury lifestyle with flash vehicles
Credit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
While the Netflix documentary
"I'm still traumatised," Cecilie, 36, tells
She reveals that 'no victim' should be placed into a courtroom and be forced to defend themselves.
Between 2017 and 2019, he posed as Simon, a 31-year-old and the fictional son of billionaire Lev Leviev, to swindle women all over Europe.
READ MORE ON TINDLER SWINDLE
After changing his name from Shimon Hayut, Simon Leviev used Tinder to seduce and con women out of an estimated £7.4 million.
He falsely claimed to be the son of
Leviev was a wanted man in several European countries, having fled
Israel
in 2011 to avoid fraud charges.
In 2019, he was arrested in Greece for using a fake passport and extradited to Israel.
Most read in Fabulous
He faced charges for fraud, theft, and forgery, but none of these charges were related to his Tinder scheme or his other alleged crimes abroad.
After fleeing Israel to avoid fraud charges from his early 20s, Leviev moved to
High-flying businesswoman targeted by The Tinder Swindler after he resurfaced on Instagram
He had previously served two years in a Finnish prison for defrauding three women and was released in 2017.
He briefly returned to Israel but escaped before he could be captured again. When he was finally arrested in 2019, it was for the forgery, theft, and fraud charges he had previously faced.
He was sentenced to 15 months in prison but was released after just five months due to good behavior.
Cecilie was conned into taking out nine loans totaling $250,000 (£190,000), and was hounded by creditors to the point where she contemplated suicide.
Suicide
She eventually sought help at a psychiatric unit and has spent the last seven years in therapy.
She 'never wanted to be on' antidepressants but explains that she 'needed them.'
Due to being hit with a lawsuit by creditors and police barging into her home, Cecilie needed to be on antidepressants.
Pernilla, 38, also contemplated suicide after learning the truth about the man she considered a friend.
He's really angry with all the successes that we have had
Cecilie Fjellhoy
She lost the $45,000 (£33,840) she had saved for a home deposit and then doubled that amount in legal fees when she tried to take her bank to court.
The fallout from the exposé in a Norwegian newspaper led to death threats from Leviev, leaving her questioning not only "what I would do to myself; I didn't know what Simon might try to do to me."
But today, the women are finally reclaiming their
power
.
The enormous reach of the Netflix documentary made Leviev a recognisable figure, effectively ending his con.
8
He falsely claimed to be the son of "King of Diamonds," Lev Leviev
Credit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
8
Pernilla Sjőholm, a Tinder Swindler victim
Credit: Jam Press/Pernilla Sj�holm
"He's really angry with all the successes that we have had," Cecilie says.
"I think he really wanted us to be miserable for the rest of our lives."
Instead, they've become fierce advocates for victims of romance fraud.
They now travel the world giving talks about online safety, and Pernilla has even co-founded an identity verification platform.
The goal
Their new book, Swindled Never After: How We Survived (and You Can Spot) a Relationship Scammer, is an unflinching look at their journey, complete with online safety tips and expert insights.
The goal, they say, is to change the laws and fight the victim-shaming that so often follows these crimes.
Pernilla is now a mother to two-year-old twins and has moved on, refusing to let Leviev "continue to defraud me" by consuming her life with anger.
Cecilie, who says she still "loves love," has also returned to dating, albeit with a new sense of caution.
8
Leviev had previously served two years in a Finnish prison for defrauding three women and was released in 2017
Credit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
8
Tinder has stated that they have banned Leviev from their app and that he is not on it under any known alias
Credit: simon.leviev.of/Instagram
8
Leviev has even reinvented himself as a real estate mogul and offers classes in business education
Credit: Instagram
She's not worried about being financially duped again, as, "There's nothing left. I'm bankrupt. I can't even get a credit card."
While his victims continue to pay off the massive debts he left them with, Leviev is living as a free man in Israel, seemingly without any financial issues.
He is rumoured to be dating an Israeli model, Kate Konlin, and his private Instagram account, with over 284,000 followers, is filled with photos of a lavish lifestyle, including helicopters and expensive dinners.
Leviev has even reinvented himself as a real estate mogul and offers classes in business education.
Tinder has stated that they have banned Leviev from their app and that he is not on it under any known alias.
How to protect yourself from fraud
USE the following tips to protect yourself from fraudsters.
Keep your social media accounts private
– Think twice before you your share details – in particular your full date of birth, address and contacts details – all of this information can be useful to fraudsters.
Deactivate and delete old social media profiles
– Keep track of your digital footprint. If a profile was created 10 years ago, there may be personal information currently available for a fraudster to use that you're are not aware of or you have forgotten about.
Password protect your devices
– Keep passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals.
Install anti-virus software on your laptop and personal devices and keep it up to date
– This will make it harder for fraudsters to access your data in the first place.
Take care on public Wi-Fi
– Fraudsters can hack or mimic them. If you're using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps, such as mobile banking.
Think about your offline information too
– Always redirect your post when you move home and make sure your letter or mailbox is secure.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
41 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The amazing life of Irish native Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra before her tragic death
Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra, who was tragically found dead on a yacht in Long Island earlier this week, had been living a successful and glamorous life in the US. The Carlow native was found unconscious on a boat moored at the Montauk Yacht Club in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Despite immediate attempts to revive her, East Hampton Town Police later declared her dead at the scene. Ms Nolan-O'Slatarra, who was just 33, had been living in Manhattan after relocating to New York in her mid-20s. She was an alumnus of University College Dublin (UCD) and later pursued a master's degree in digital marketing at Smurfit Business School, reports RSVP Live. After moving to the US, Martha initially worked as a sales representative for a fintech start-up liaising with top-tier hedge funds. Later, she launched her own brand, East x East, a clothing line specialising in eyewear, swimwear and resort wear. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra (Image: Instagram) She was also the director of operations at investment firm K4 Capital and ran an Amazon fashion brand known as 'Duper'. Speaking to the Irish Independent previously, Martha said she had left home at the age of 16, determined to make a success of herself. She said: "I was the small-town girl who needed to get out to achieve her big dreams." She added that she always knew she wanted to be successful. Business associates of the young Irish fashion designer have shared touching tributes to her on social media. Dylan Grace, Martha's business partner at East x East, posted several photos of them together on Instagram and expressed how he was "truly blessed and grateful" for her presence in his life. Martha with Dylan Grace, her business partner at East x East His post read: "We dreamed big together, laughed harder than anyone else could understand, and built so much from nothing. I'm truly blessed and grateful to have had you in my life. Love you so much Mar. Fly high girl." The comments were also filled with sweet tributes, as one person wrote: "She was such a beautiful person inside and out. She will be so so missed. Love you both - rest in peace Martha." "Still can't believe it. I'm heartbroken and completely devastated. I'm so so sorry Dylan. She will always be in our hearts and memories. Sending you big hugs, I am here for you my friend," another said. A third wrote: "I'm so sorry brother. Martha was a beautiful light that shined on so many. I know her light will continue to shine through you and others." In a previous interview, Martha credited Dylan with helping her fund and grow her fledgling fashion firm, saying he was her 'best friend'. Her most recent posts included a July video celebrating a pop-up appearance at Gurney's Resort in Montauk, captioned "Goals Achieved". The circumstances leading to her death remain a mystery but are under investigation by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office. In an update on Wednesday, the Suffolk County Police Department said a post-mortem examination 'did not show evidence of violence' and her cause of death requires further examination. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Telecoms entrepreneur Tony Boyle dies
Mr Boyle was the co-owner of Persona, the company that came second to Denis O'Brien's Esat Digifone consortium in the competition for the licence in 1995. The award was subsequently examined by the Moriarty Tribunal, which concluded in its report in 2011 that Michael Lowry, as minister for communications in 1995, 'secured the winning' of the licence for Mr O'Brien. It also said payments to the then Fine Gael minister had been made or facilitated by the businessman. The tribunal findings were disputed by both men. Persona subsequently launched a legal action against the State, claiming a minimum €500m in damages. It alleged that, because of the 'misfeasance in public office' of Mr Lowry, it had lost out on the licence. The State defended the case and Mr O'Brien joined himself as a defendant. Mr Boyle's consortium had included the ESB and Motorola, then a significant presence in Ireland, along with Telia, a Swedish teleco. It also included Sigma Wireless, of which Mr Boyle was chairman and majority shareholder, alongside his business partner Michael McGinley, the father of former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Mr Boyle said that at one point Persona had invested well over €10m in the case. It sought permission from the Supreme Court to raise UK finance, but was refused on the basis of a feudal law known as 'champerty'. Ultimately, Mr Boyle did not live to see the outcome of the case, which is still in train over 20 years later. 'The bottom line here is that a government-commissioned inquiry found fundamentally major flaws in the process — effectively that payments were made which influenced the process,' the businessman told the Sunday Independent in 2023. "The Government accepted that report in the Dáil. It never challenged it." Explaining his reasons for seeking outside finance, Mr Boyle described himself and Mr McGinley as 'just two normal Joes', who didn't have the time or resources to take on the State. "I think a nominal settlement would be very acceptable. This is not necessarily a matter of jeopardising the finances of the State. That wouldn't be my objective, or my goal ever. We have obviously spent a lot of money. And we've had a lot of trauma as a result of it. We would start with them accepting the Moriarty report.' Another failed bidder in the competition recently dropped a separate lawsuit against the State. Comcast International Holdings, a US-registered media company, asked the High Court in May to discontinue proceedings which had been ongoing since 2001. Born in Dublin's inner city in 1951, Mr Boyle was educated at O'Connell's School on North Richmond Street, and after his Leaving Cert went to work for Telecommunications, a radio company based in Finglas, at the age of 17. He went on to launch the Motorola business in Ireland, and subsequently ran first the UK and then the European business for the company. In 1991 he formed Sigma Wireless with Mr McGinley, building radio networks for clients which included An Garda Siochana, the ambulance services, the Irish Coastguard, and the Irish Aviation Authority. Sigma also got international contracts from the United Nations to build communications networks for peacekeeping missions overseas. In more recent years, Mr Boyle created the Ireland Portugal Business Network, and from his home in Cascais became its president and chairman. He also worked with Dense Air, a 5G network in Portugal. He was on the executive board of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, and a director of Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. Mr Boyle is survived by his wife Aoife, son Sé, and daughters Aisling, Jeanne and Anne-Marie.
Irish Independent
43 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Telecoms entrepreneur Tony Boyle dies aged 73
Mr Boyle was the co-owner of Persona, the company that came second to Denis O'Brien's Esat Digifone consortium in the competition for the licence in 1995. The award was subsequently examined by the Moriarty Tribunal, which concluded in its report in 2011 that Michael Lowry, as minister for communications in 1995, 'secured the winning' of the licence for Mr O'Brien. It also said payments to the then Fine Gael minister had been made or facilitated by the businessman. The tribunal findings were disputed by both men. Persona subsequently launched a legal action against the State, claiming a minimum €500m in damages. It alleged that, because of the 'misfeasance in public office' of Mr Lowry, it had lost out on the licence. The State defended the case and Mr O'Brien joined himself as a defendant. Mr Boyle's consortium had included the ESB and Motorola, then a significant presence in Ireland, along with Telia, a Swedish teleco. It also included Sigma Wireless, of which Mr Boyle was chairman and majority shareholder, alongside his business partner Michael McGinley, the father of former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley. Mr Boyle said that at one point Persona had invested well over €10m in the case. It sought permission from the Supreme Court to raise UK finance, but was refused on the basis of a feudal law known as 'champerty'. Ultimately, Mr Boyle did not live to see the outcome of the case, which is still in train over 20 years later. 'The bottom line here is that a government-commissioned inquiry found fundamentally major flaws in the process — effectively that payments were made which influenced the process,' the businessman told the Sunday Independent in 2023. "The Government accepted that report in the Dáil. It never challenged it." Explaining his reasons for seeking outside finance, Mr Boyle described himself and Mr McGinley as 'just two normal Joes', who didn't have the time or resources to take on the State. "I think a nominal settlement would be very acceptable. This is not necessarily a matter of jeopardising the finances of the State. That wouldn't be my objective, or my goal ever. We have obviously spent a lot of money. And we've had a lot of trauma as a result of it. We would start with them accepting the Moriarty report.' Another failed bidder in the competition recently dropped a separate lawsuit against the State. Comcast International Holdings, a US-registered media company, asked the High Court in May to discontinue proceedings which had been ongoing since 2001. Born in Dublin's inner city in 1951, Mr Boyle was educated at O'Connell's School on North Richmond Street, and after his Leaving Cert went to work for Telecommunications, a radio company based in Finglas, at the age of 17. He went on to launch the Motorola business in Ireland, and subsequently ran first the UK and then the European business for the company. In 1991 he formed Sigma Wireless with Mr McGinley, building radio networks for clients which included An Garda Siochana, the ambulance services, the Irish Coastguard, and the Irish Aviation Authority. Sigma also got international contracts from the United Nations to build communications networks for peacekeeping missions overseas. In more recent years, Mr Boyle created the Ireland Portugal Business Network, and from his home in Cascais became its president and chairman. He also worked with Dense Air, a 5G network in Portugal. He was on the executive board of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, and a director of Ballymun Regeneration Ltd. Mr Boyle is survived by his wife Aoife, son Sé, and daughters Aisling, Jeanne and Anne-Marie.
