Tinder Swindler: Is He the Ultimate Swindler or Did He Pull at Society’s Curated Puppet Strings?

By Anoushka Rai, Ashley Lanuza, and Kayla Lupoli

Tinder Swindler has been the subject of discussion ever since the documentary’s explosive release on Netflix over two weeks ago. People across the globe have been shocked to hear about the cunning mastermind Simon Leviev and how he lured multiple women, only to leave them with an extortionate amount of debt.

Our current season has been centered around love and relationships, so it is only fitting that the team shares our views on the documentary, as there’s numerous layers to unpack within relationships, gender roles, and the justice system.

In order of appearance, first up to be wined, dined and charmed is Cecilie, a woman in her 30s from Norway. Cecilie, like all of Simon’s victims, matches with him on Tinder.  One poignant point to mention is that she believed dating apps are the normal way to meet people. Yes, this can be the case, however, Tinder is notorious for more casual interactions. She seemed intent on finding a relationship. 

The internet provides exposure to so many people—some seeking a genuine connection, some not. As one of the women said: it’s all about looking for the diamond in the rut. Other times, the “traditional”, organic processes are better to first build connections. Either way, when it comes to love, both candidates can observe and identify compatibility, and with the internet providing a bridge to the unknown, this is where rational thinking should come more into play. You can catch a “bad vibe” off meeting someone face-to-face, but it’s not so easy through instant messaging.

Cecilie also took a huge risk by going on an airplane with him so soon. In some situations, whirlwind encounters can lead to beautiful things, but it is important to also consider the risks before acting, especially when it comes to safety. She could have been taking advantage of, trafficked, or killed– the unfortunate reality for many individuals, especially women. However, Simon played the script well, posing as the jet-setting son of a diamond mogul, feigning that his lifestyle was spontaneous and far from the mundane routine that most of us barely tolerate. 

Cecilie admitted Disney movies set the bar on her expectations for love; she truly felt swept off her feet. It’s telling that, subconsciously, the media heavily influences our ideas of love. Rather than keeping an abstract concept grounded, this media persuades us to have faith in the unrealistic. We then become vulnerable to falling prey when a predator learns a script by heart. Each move is calculated. Each gift, each endearing term of affection— Simon was no exception to this.

The next woman to enter Simon’s wrath is Pernilla, a forty year old woman from the Netherlands. Despite a lack of chemistry between them after a first kiss, they stay close friends.  Like he does to Cecilie, Simon plays the pity party, claiming to be threatened and instigating complete scaremongering. Eventually, he has both of the women lend him money out of sympathy and care, and he promises to repay them as soon as possible. But like his multiple identities, those promises were fake. 

The last person we meet is Ayleen Charlotte. His most long-term of the three women, Ayleen and Simon went out for more than a year until the former found out about the other’s nefarious schemes. Instead of breaking up with him immediately, however, Ayleen is known as the woman who swindled the swindler. In a badass moment that felt the closest thing to a victory, Ayleen tricked Simon to meet with her, took three suitcases worth of his designer clothing, sold them online, and, unbeknownst to him, pocketed the funds for herself. It was Ayleen’s attempt to get back $140,000 Simon stole from her. She was also the catalyst for his capture, yet justice was brief.

By the end of the true crime documentary, we learn that Simon got caught by the police, tried for his crimes, found guilty, and sentenced to prison. But here’s the catch: 

Simon was only charged for possessing fraudulent identities, dismissing him to 15 months in prison. But because of exemplary behavior, Simon left after five months. According to Netflix, he now sells business courses online. Meanwhile, his victims are still paying off their six-figure debts.

As we revel in the drama and scandal of this situation, and the flurry the media has induced, it’s also a situation worth reflecting on. Frankly speaking, Tinder Swindler portrayed how disappointing the world can be when it comes to honoring and protecting women. Our world has truly created an environment that caters to men. His victims, of whom he stole more than 10 million euros in total, are left with emotional, mental, and FINANCIAL burden, while the manipulative fraud leaves scott-free. The authorities know what he is and will continue to be. Yet the women are left to pick up the pieces without any regard from authorities, despite the truth sitting in plain sight. Such men know what to do, in terms of navigating through emotions and get what they desire, as most women tend to be more emotionally fixated. 

The documentary also reflects how society devalues women, despite the effort they put into their relationships. Not only do the women have to endure the heartbreak and emotional trauma from the experience, but are left knowing that the world will never have their back. Now, these women have to endure the public knowing and judging their actions. Comments about their decisions and how they should have known better might not seem like a big deal, but with how popular the documentary has been, these women have to deal with these comments each day. We all know that the Internet can be a hostile place. 

This leaves us with the question: how can we tell if someone from Tinder is being genuine? The short answer is that we can’t. People like Simon know how to scam their way into being a partner without blinking an eye. But, if we’re diligent, listen to our instincts whenever we see a red flag, and realize that something might be too good to be true, we might be able to stop even more Tinder Swindlers.