Quantcast
RELATED

If you never heard about The Tinder Swindler, then you may be living under a rock. The Tinder Swindler is a Netflix docuseries about Simon Leviev and the women who all claimed to have been scammed by the charismatic gentleman. These women met Simon on the dating app Tinder where (spoiler alert) he allegedly posed as a wealthy businessman that came from a family who owned a diamond company (he denied that he was an heir of a diamond company in an interview with Inside Edition).


However, over time, the women that he was dating claimed that he defrauded them out of an estimated $10 million following various schemes. One of the women, Ayleen, had the idea to get back at Simon and she put together a plan that would eventually lead to him being caught.

He was convicted of fraud, theft, and forgery and he served five months out of the 15 he was sentenced to in an Israeli prison in 2019. Since the documentary has come out Simon has denied the allegations on his YouTube page with his new girlfriend by his side.

"I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder,” he said. "I'm not a Tinder swindler."

The documentary also sparked a lot of conversations on social media.

The last tweet resonates with many daters, but there are ways to protect yourself. Here are a few tips to help you avoid falling victim to a Tinder swindler (Hinge, IG DMs, IRL.)

Do Your Googles

We may not always do it, but it is best practice to Google the person you’re dating or getting to know. Also, check out their social media pages. While their dating profile may show them one way, their social media pages a lot of times will show you if the person you’re entertaining is actually real.

Don’t Overshare

When you first begin dating someone, you never want to share too much personal information about yourself especially if they share so little. Yes, you may be excited and nervous, which may cause you to overshare, but it’s best to tone it down and be aware. If they’re not willing to open up, there’s a huge possibility that they are hiding something.

Love Bombing

The term 'love bombing' has been brought up a lot lately, but what does it really mean? Love bombing is a manipulative tactic used to control you by 'bombing' you with overt affection, gifts, and compliments early on in dating to rush the relationship. The ultimate goal is to make you feel obligated to the love-bomber and for the love-bomber to be in control. It’s a major red flag, so if you experience it, run!

Too Good to Be True

A lot of the women in The Tinder Swindler doc shared how they were whisked away by Simon with private jets and luxury hotels at the beginning dating stage, which all seemed too good to be true. Nine times out of 10, if it feels too good to be true, it probably is. Always trust your instincts as they will never steer you wrong.

Question Frequent Canceling

If you and the person you’re entertaining always make plans to see each other but they keep on canceling, then hang it up. No matter how fine they are or how nice they seem to be, their frequent cancellations are a clear sign that they’re hiding something or they don’t value you in that way. Overall, it’s a no.

Don’t Lend Money

Last, but certainly not least. Don’t ever, ever, ever give money to someone you just met especially if you’ve never met them IRL. Just like Simon in The Tinder Swindler, people will come up with elaborate schemes just to trick others into giving them money. Don’t take out a loan, don’t let them use your credit card, debit card, or put anything in your name. If someone you’re dating starts asking you for money, block them.

Featured image by Getty Images

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Your February 2025 Horoscopes Are All About Self-Love & Soulful Alignment

Explore your sign’s 2025 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.

February is a coming together, as a culmination of community and abundance is evident. Some significant planets go direct this month after being retrograde since this past year, and we can finally take a deep breath. We walk into the month in Aquarius season, and the focus during this time is on coming together with the people you resonate with on a soul level, opening your heart to love, and gaining perspective in the process. When the Sun is in Aquarius, everything feels more electrified and inspiring, and this is one of the best months of the year to manifest and set your intentions.
KEEP READINGShow less
20 Sweet & Fun Valentine's Day Ideas (Regardless Of Your Relational Status)

I’ve shared before, throughout the years that, although holidays aren’t exactly my thing, as a marriage life coach of over 20 years at this point, there is a theory about the origin of Valentine’s Day that I can low-key get down with. Legend has it that a priest from way back in the day ultimately became a martyr for marrying couples during a season of war (while Emperor Claudius II was ruling). Since it was believed that husbands didn’t make good soldiers, men weren’t allowed to marry during that time. St. Valentine didn’t care, though and he ultimately lost his life because of it.

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS