In a dramatic international operation, the notorious conman known globally as the 'Tinder Swindler' has been apprehended. Shimon Hayut, who infamously posed as a billionaire playboy under the alias Simon Leviev, was arrested in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi following a tip-off to Interpol.
The 33-year-old Israeli national, whose elaborate dating app scams were chronicled in a hit Netflix documentary, was captured on Sunday, 14th September. His arrest ends a prolonged global manhunt and marks a significant victory for international law enforcement.
A Web of Deceit Unravels
Hayut's modus operandi involved crafting an elaborate persona of immense wealth and luxury on Tinder. He wooed women across Europe before convincing them to lend him large sums of money for a fictional business emergency, promising swift repayment that never materialised.
His capture was executed by Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, acting on an Interpol red notice issued at the request of authorities in his home country of Israel. He is now facing a litany of fresh fraud charges and awaits potential extradition.
A Global Manhunt Concludes
Since the release of the Netflix film that exposed his schemes to a worldwide audience, Hayut's whereabouts had been largely unknown. His arrest in Tbilisi underscores the relentless and coordinated efforts of global police forces to bring him to justice.
This story serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated dangers that can lurk on dating platforms and the long arm of international law.
