Simon Leviev, the subject of the Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler," has stated that he has no regrets about the film, calling it "the best thing that has happened to me." Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, claims to be "laughing all the way to the bank" due to the notoriety generated by the documentary.
The documentary highlighted allegations that Hayut conned women out of approximately $10 million over a two-year period. Hayut, 35, expressed indifference to being called a swindler, stating, "Call me swindler, call me what you want. I don't care. At the end of the day, I'm laughing all the way to the bank."
He also commented on the women he allegedly defrauded, saying, "I'm happy to see them doing well. They're cashing out. I'm cashing out as well."
Hayut has a history of legal troubles in multiple countries. He previously served time in Finland, Greece, and Israel. While imprisoned in Tbilisi, he described conditions as inhumane, spending 23 hours a day in a cell with six other men and losing 20kg in two months.
Recently, the German investigation into fraud allegations against Hayut was reportedly dropped due to insufficient evidence. Additionally, legal action brought by the Leviev diamond family has concluded, with his lawyer stating the case was withdrawn because the alleged offenses occurred outside of Israel, rendering the Israeli court without jurisdiction.
An investigation remains open in Israel concerning allegations of coercive control made by his former girlfriend, Kate Konlin, who appeared at the end of "The Tinder Swindler." Hayut stated, "It's the end of years calling me a swindler, calling me bad man. But I've been used to that since I was a boy. I don't mind."
Following his release from prison in Georgia, some of his alleged victims expressed shock and disappointment. Pernilla Sjoholm, a Swedish businesswoman who claims Hayut defrauded her of £39,000, was unaware of his release until contacted by media. She noted that while his release was disappointing, his plea deal meant he had admitted to his crimes.
Sjoholm also pointed out that other cases against Hayut are ongoing in his native Israel, including a lawsuit from the Leviev family for falsely claiming to be a member of their family. She expressed hope that further legal action would be pursued by authorities in the UK and other countries where reports have been filed. Sjoholm added that Hayut has allegedly committed crimes against companies and men, in addition to romance fraud, and that this behavior has been consistent since his teenage years.