مجدداً.. القبض على «محتال Tinder» الإسرائيلي في جورجيا

The authorities in Georgia have arrested the Israeli Shimon Hayut, known as Simon Leviev, nicknamed the Tinder Swindler, based on a request from Germany on charges of defrauding a woman in Berlin. Hayut is known for presenting himself as the son of an oligarch before creating fake romantic relationships and stealing millions of dollars from women through dating apps.

Fraud Against Women

Between 2017 and 2019, Hayut exploited his relationships with women to obtain lines of credit and loans in their names, as well as convincing them to fund trips on private jets and luxurious hotel stays, before disappearing. Hayut had previously been sentenced to 15 months in prison in Israel in 2019 for fraud, but he was released after only five months.

German Charges

The new charges relate to allegations of stealing about 44,000 euros from a woman in Berlin, in addition to credit card expenses and phone contracts in her name, and making her pay additional amounts for trips and hotels in the Cayman Islands from which nothing was refunded. Hayut is now being held in Georgia for three months with the possibility of being extradited to Germany, while he seeks to appeal the decision.

Circumstances of Detention

Hayut's lawyer confirmed that his client is being held under difficult conditions, with continuous handcuffing and a lack of nutrition, noting that his client has not been formally charged with any crime in Germany yet. Over the past years, Hayut has traveled between the Middle East, Europe, and other places in Eastern Europe without facing any arrests.