"Victims of the Tinder Scammer featured in Netflix's documentary express relief after authorities in Georgia apprehend the notorious swindler"
In a significant victory for those who have fallen victim to financial fraud, Simon Leviev, also known as Shimon Yehuda Hayut, was arrested in Batumi, Georgia at Interpol's request. The arrest came following a series of police complaints filed against him by Pernilla Sjoholm, one of his victims, in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Sjoholm, a Swedish national, met Leviev on Tinder in March 2018. However, their encounter soon turned sour as Leviev allegedly used the dating app to pose as a wealthy heir and trick women into advancing him large sums of money. In Sjoholm's case, she handed over more than 600,000 kronor (RM272,369) to Leviev, which he never repaid.
The scheme of Leviev became one of the most notorious examples of "catfishing" - creating a false online persona to lure victims into emotional and financial entanglements. His actions left many victims devastated, including Sjoholm, who was deeply affected in 2018 and 2019.
Despite the emotional turmoil, Sjoholm has remained resilient. She has become involved in the fight against financial fraud and advocates for better regulation of the use of artificial intelligence in deepfakes. Sjoholm sees financial fraud as emotional abuse and is ready to testify against Leviev in the event of a trial.
Sjoholm's arrest of Leviev is a win for her, and she described her current family life as very happy. Another victim, Cecilie Fjellhoy, also expressed relief and happiness about his arrest. Fjellhoy stated that she celebrated upon learning of Leviev's arrest, expressing relief but also frustration that it took a long time for him to be apprehended.
Leviev gained notoriety for his romance fraud and financial crimes, as exposed by investigative reports and media coverage. Between 2017 and 2019, his alleged fraudulent activities occurred. The state that issued the Interpol arrest warrant for Simon Leviev is Israel.
As the fight against financial fraud continues, the story of Pernilla Sjoholm serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and the power of standing up against injustice.
