Scams, deception, and false identities are substantial risks in the world of online dating.
Simon Leviev claims he can tackle these issues with his upcoming app, Safe Love.
Interestingly, he knows the ins and outs of these fraudulent schemes—he’s been involved in them himself.
Leviev, originally named Shimon Yehuda Hayut, rose to notoriety as the “Tinder Swindler” due to his elaborate romance scams. The 36-year-old reportedly made a significant income by extorting money from women he connected with online.
He disclosed that he was convicted of fraud, theft, and forgery in Israel and Finland between 2015 and 2019 during a video interview.
His time in Finland included a two-year prison sentence starting in 2015 after being found guilty of defrauding three women, as noted by The Times of Israel. He was also arrested multiple times in Israel related to similar charges.
Leviev was extradited from Greece to Israel in June 2019 and was incarcerated there until May 2020.
In addition to his time in Finland, he faced various legal troubles in Israel over the years.
Now, Leviev plans to channel his past experiences to help others safely navigate the online dating scene.
He draws a parallel between himself and the infamous con artist Frank Abagnale Jr., who is known for his check fraud and later transitioned into a fraud prevention consultant.
Leviev shared, “The idea came from me being the Tinder Swindler. They say I made the dating environment unsafe. So I thought, ‘All right. Let’s make it safe.’”
His life is mostly divided between Israel and the UAE, and he feels that his background in fraud gives him a unique perspective to protect users.
“I did use false passports. I did use false identity,” he admitted. “I’ve paid my debts to society. Obviously, things I’m not proud of.”
Despite his past, he believes he has the know-how to combat the very types of fraud he once perpetrated.
“I know how fake passports look,” he said, noting that he might even recognize them better than some airport security personnel. “No one ever questioned me once. I know how to challenge the system.”
Match gone wrong
Leviev’s new app will implement stricter identity verification protocols compared to other dating platforms. Users will need to upload a government ID and a selfie, with photos varying by no more than 15% from that initial selfie to ensure consistency.
He aims to make certain that users are accurately represented in both appearance and identity when they go to meet someone in real life.
The inspiration for this feature came after a personal experience he had with a match who was transgender.
The Safe Love app will also include an SOS button that users can activate if they feel uneasy during a date; this feature will not only record video and audio but also share the user’s location with authorities.
The app is currently finishing regulatory requirements before its launch.
“It could be a few days, could be a few weeks, but hopefully as soon as possible,” he stated.
Giving love a bad name or love crimes
The Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA), which promotes safe online dating practices, has expressed strong opposition to Leviev’s app.
In a letter to Google and Apple, they urged the companies to prohibit the app from their stores, citing concerns over Leviev’s past.
“We do not believe either app store wishes to be the platform that hosted a fraudster’s return to the environment in which his crimes were committed,” they stated.
Leviev, however, feels unfazed by this backlash. He believes they won’t succeed in halting his project.
“They’re afraid of the superiority of my product,” he claimed. “I mean, they’re threatened by me.”
Leviev is adamant about ensuring that the app functions flawlessly prior to its release. He’s aware that any failure could worsen his already controversial reputation.
“If something will go wrong, I cannot say, ‘Ah, we have a fault in our system,’” he noted, emphasizing the burden he feels due to his past. “I have notoriety. It means that I cannot make mistakes.”
He acknowledges there are people who view his history as a menace, but he urges them to remember, “Yes, on paper I’m a convicted criminal. But I’m not the same kid that I was at 19 years old.”
Though he has never been married, Leviev has an 11-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son with different partners, suggesting that people can change over time.
“And we do change. People do change.”
