The Tinder Swindler is a documentary film that tells the story of a man named Shimon Hayut, who posed as a wealthy diamond dealer on social media and dating apps, swindling women out of millions of dollars. Hayut's targets were primarily from Europe and the U.S., with whom he interacted using the moniker "Simon Leviev."
Using a variety of tactics, ranging from romance to friendship, Hayut would gain the trust of his targets, oftentimes spending months building a relationship with them. After securing their trust, he would convince them to invest in his various business ventures, which appeared to be legitimate at first glance.
However, once Hayut had received the money, he would vanish without a trace, leaving his victims with little to no recourse for recovering their funds. In total, it's estimated that Hayut conned at least 20 women out of more than $3 million.
The documentary features interviews with several of Hayut's victims, as well as law enforcement officials and other experts in the field of cybercrime. It also explores the psychological manipulation tactics used by Hayut to gain the trust of his targets, as well as the aftermath of his crimes and the attempts by some of his victims to seek justice.