Netflix’s riveting true crime documentary, ‘The Tinder Swindler’, reveals the story of Israeli conman, Simon Leviev who manipulated numerous women into funding his lavish lifestyle. CEL Solicitors had the honour of welcoming the Tinder Swindler whistleblower Cecilie Fjellhøy, whose story captured global attention. Her visit to the firm shed light on the deceptive tactics employed by Simon Leviev and the devastating impact of romance fraud.
Cecilie’s Story
Originally from Norway, Cecilie Fjellhøy was living in London when she decided to venture into the world of online dating. After downloading Tinder, she matched with Simon Leviev (born Shimon Hayut), a jet-setting Israeli businessman who claimed to be the son of diamond mogul, Lev Leviev. Little did she know, her match with Simon would plunge her into a nightmare of manipulation and deceit.
Initially enamoured by Simon’s charisma and lavish lifestyle, Cecilie soon found herself entangled in a web of lies. Their relationship took a dark turn when Simon claimed that his ‘enemies’ were after him and that both he and Cecilie were in danger.
After convincing Cecilie that he was unable to use his credit card due to security issues, Simon’s requests for money began. From plane tickets to medical bills, Simon became increasingly persistent as the fictitious threats to his life intensified.
What started as an innocent favour spiralled into Cecilie being trapped in a cycle of fear and false promises. In just 54 days, she took out nine loans which totalled $250,000. After contacting one of her creditors who confirmed that Simon was in fact, a known fraudster, Cecilie had the crushing realisation that she had been deceived by the man she loved.
Dealing with the Impact of the Scam
The impact of romance scams extends far beyond the loss of finances; it shatters trust, erodes self-esteem, and leaves victims grappling with a sense of betrayal and disbelief.
Cecilie bravely shared the emotional and financial toll inflicted by the scam, revealing that she faced staggering interest rates of up to 20% and was expected to pay over £7,500 a month to her creditors. Forced to declare bankruptcy in the UK, Cecilie was summoned to court by the banks where she was treated like an accomplice of Simon’s rather than a victim.
After enduring a nightmarish ordeal, Cecilie was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where she continued to receive threatening text messages from Simon. Despite this, she credits her emotional recovery to her friends and family who were unwavering in their support.
Bringing the Tinder Swindler to Light
In an attempt to bring Simon’s crimes to light, Cecilie approached Verdens Gang, Norway’s most widely read online newspaper, who ran an elaborate investigative piece on Simon’s fraudulent activity, triggering other victims to come forward with their experiences. Shortly after, The Tinder Swindler debuted on Netflix, quickly becoming the platform’s most-watched documentary to date.
Captivating audiences worldwide, the documentary became a cultural phenomenon, propelling the term ‘Tinder Swindler’ into public consciousness and sparking essential discussions on the complexities of romance scams and fraud generally.
Cecilie’s Impact
Passionate about challenging the stigma that paints fraud victims as complicit or negligent, Cecilie speaks for many silent victims by empowering them and exposing the deceitful tactics used by scammers. She recently co-founded LoveSaid, a fraud centre and think tank which aims to support victims of romance scams.
Opening up to our team, Cecilie brought attention to the intersection of love and financial manipulation, highlighting how it is a breeding ground for exploitation and abuse. Her talk served as a call to action for financial institutions to do more to protect victims of fraud and to reassess their treatment towards them.
Cecilie’s journey from a hopeful romantic to a victim of the infamous Tinder Swindler is a cautionary tale that resonates with many of our clients who have ventured into the world of online dating seeking companionship, to then be manipulated and conned out of thousands. Yet, Cecilie’s unwavering determination is a testament to her resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.
