Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-03**Lead**
Simon Leviev, the Israeli con artist known globally as the “Tinder Swindler” for defrauding multiple women out of millions of dollars through elaborate romance scams, has announced plans to launch a new dating application that he claims will be the “safest” platform on the market. The announcement, made via a series of social media posts and a promotional video released late last week, has drawn immediate backlash from cybersecurity experts, fraud prevention advocates, and victims of his previous schemes. Leviev, who was convicted in Israel and served a prison sentence before being released early, is positioning the app as a direct response to the very tactics he once used, promising to integrate “intelligence from the con man playbook” to protect users from similar deception.
**Contexto**
Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, rose to international infamy following the 2022 Netflix documentary *The Tinder Swindler*, which detailed how he posed as the son of a diamond billionaire on the dating app Tinder, luring women into romantic relationships before manipulating them into taking out loans and credit cards in their own names. The documentary estimated his total haul at approximately $10 million, though actual figures remain disputed. After his arrest in Greece and subsequent extradition to Israel, Leviev was sentenced to 15 months in prison but was released after serving only a fraction of that time due to a plea deal and time already served. Since his release, he has maintained a public profile, appearing on podcasts and social media platforms where he has alternately expressed remorse and defended his actions as “business deals gone wrong.”
The proposed app, tentatively referred to as “Safe Dating” in early promotional materials, is described by Leviev as a platform built on transparency and verification. In his promotional video, he claims the app will require government-issued ID verification for all users, real-time facial recognition during video calls, and a proprietary algorithm that flags “red flag” behavioral patterns commonly used by scammers. Leviev has stated that he is consulting with former law enforcement officials and cybersecurity firms to develop the technology, though he has not named any specific partners. The app is reportedly seeking venture capital funding, with Leviev positioning himself as a reformed figure who now wants to “give back” by preventing others from falling victim to the same schemes he once perfected.
**Analise**
The announcement has been met with widespread incredulity and condemnation. Victims of Leviev’s scams, several of whom have spoken publicly, have expressed outrage that a convicted fraudster is now being given a platform to profit from the very crime he committed. “It is deeply offensive and frankly dangerous for someone with his history to position himself as a guardian of online safety,” said a representative of the nonprofit group Fraud Awareness Network, which has tracked romance scam trends for years. Cybersecurity analysts have also raised concerns that the app could be used to harvest sensitive personal data under the guise of security. “The idea that a known con artist is building a ‘safe’ dating app is like putting a fox in charge of the henhouse,” noted a digital security researcher at a major university, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. “The verification systems he describes are already standard on many platforms, and the real challenge is not technology but trust. Who would trust Simon Leviev with their ID, their face scans, and their romantic life?”
Beyond the immediate ethical questions, the announcement highlights a broader trend in the online dating industry: the growing arms race between scammers and security measures. Romance scams have become a multibillion-dollar problem globally, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that losses from such schemes have risen sharply in recent years. Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge have all introduced enhanced verification features, including photo verification and background checks, but fraudsters continue to adapt. Leviev’s proposal, while audacious, taps into a genuine consumer demand for greater safety. However, experts warn that his involvement could actually set back trust in security features, as users may become more skeptical of any platform that claims to be “safe.” The app also raises legal questions: if Leviev’s platform fails to prevent fraud, could victims sue him for negligence, given his unique expertise in the very methods he claims to be blocking?
**Fontes**
- Netflix documentary *The Tinder Swindler* (2022), directed by Felicity Morris. - Israeli court records and news reports from Haaretz and The Times of Israel detailing Simon Leviev’s conviction and release. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer protection data on romance scams (public reports, 2022–2025). - Statements from Fraud Awareness Network (nonprofit organization) as reported by multiple news outlets. - Commentary from cybersecurity researchers at academic institutions, cited in coverage by The Guardian and Wired. - Social media posts and promotional video released by Simon Leviev via his verified Instagram and YouTube accounts (September 2026).