Shimon Hayut, who gained notoriety as the “Tinder Swindler,” has settled a lawsuit with the Leviev diamond family in Israel, concluding a legal battle that stemmed from his alleged impersonation of a member of the wealthy family. The settlement was announced Thursday, according to court papers reviewed by Page Six.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hayut, who used the alias Simon Leviev, is prohibited from presenting himself, directly or indirectly, as a member of the Leviev family or affiliated with their companies, including LLD Diamonds USA, LLC. In exchange, the Leviev family will drop the remainder of their lawsuit against him. The resolution was reached without any admission of guilt.
Legal Background
The Leviev family, originally from Israel and known for their diamond trading business, sued Hayut in 2022. They claimed he had exploited their family name and reputation to deceive multiple women and businesses, causing significant damage to their firms. Chagit Leviev, CEO of Leviev Group USA and daughter of diamond billionaire Lev Leviev, had previously stated the family had actively tried to stop Hayut’s activities, reporting him to the police and pursuing legal action.
Hayut's legal troubles extend beyond this civil dispute. He previously served two and a half years in a Finnish prison after being convicted of defrauding women. He also served a portion of a sentence in an Israeli prison for fraud charges but was released early. Extradition proceedings against him in Germany have reportedly been closed, and his lawyer stated there are no remaining criminal cases against him in Europe.
The “Tinder Swindler” Phenomenon
Hayut's story gained widespread attention following the 2022 Netflix documentary, “Tinder Swindler.” The film detailed how Hayut allegedly used dating apps to portray himself as Simon Leviev, the son of a billionaire diamond merchant. He is accused of projecting a lavish, jet-setting lifestyle to gain the trust of women, subsequently fabricating emergencies to solicit substantial loans from them.
Following the documentary, Hayut has faced considerable public scrutiny. He has sometimes framed the public's perception of him as a villain, suggesting that opinion was formed before all facts were examined. He has also acknowledged past legal issues, including a conviction for using a fake passport as a teenager, but has argued these should not define him. Hayut also addressed changing his surname to Leviev in 2017, stating it was inspired by his admiration for Lev Leviev’s business success.
Hayut has indicated that the Netflix documentary brought him global fame and has led to new business opportunities. He recently told Page Six, "If they had evidence like that, I would be sitting behind bars right now. I’m not. I’m sitting in the most expensive hotel in Brazil."