The spectre of the notorious 'Tinder Swindler' has re-emerged, with fresh allegations that he has duped another victim in a sophisticated romance scam, just years after his global infamy was cemented by a hit Netflix documentary.
Shimon Hayut, the convicted Israeli fraudster who famously posed as the billionaire heir 'Simon Leviev', is accused of weaving his deceptive web once again. His latest alleged victim, a Norwegian woman named Celina, has come forward with a harrowing story of emotional manipulation and financial ruin.
A Chilling Pattern Repeats
According to exclusive reports, the manipulative cycle began familiarly. Hayut allegedly connected with Celina on a dating app, swiftly charming her with the same playbook of luxury lifestyles, private jets, and promises of a fairy-tale romance.
The facade, however, soon cracked to reveal the same terrifying reality experienced by his previous victims. Celina claims Hayut soon began pleading for financial assistance, spinning tales of his enemies trying to kill him and claiming his accounts were frozen for security reasons.
The Devastating Aftermath
The emotional and financial toll on the latest alleged victim is profound. Celina reports being left 'emotionally shattered' and facing significant financial hardship after being persuaded to hand over large sums of money to a man she believed she loved and who was in grave danger.
Her story painfully echoes those of Cecilie Fjellhøy and Pernilla Sjöholm, whose experiences were chronicled in the sensational Netflix film that brought Hayut's crimes to a worldwide audience.
A Global Manhunt and Legal Limbo
Hayut's current whereabouts are unknown, adding a layer of urgency and fear to these new allegations. Having served only a fraction of a previous sentence in Israel for crimes committed in Europe, his ability to allegedly continue his schemes raises serious questions about international justice and the protection of potential victims across borders, including here in the UK.
This new case serves as a stark warning to all users of dating apps about the pervasive danger of sophisticated online romance scams.
