The family of an Israeli diamond magnate is suing Simon Leviev, the subject of Netflix’s documentary "The Tinder Swindler," for using the Leviev family name to scam several women of millions.
In a lawsuit filed in Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court in Israel, the real Leviev family accused Simon Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut of "making false representations as being the son of Lev Leviev and receiving numerous benefits (including material ones), cunningly and using false words, claiming to be a member of the Leviev Family, and that his family (Leviev) will pay and bear the costs of his benefits."
Guy Ophir, the Leviev family’s attorney, said in a statement on Monday, Feb. 28, that the lawsuit was "only the beginning of a number of lawsuits."
"In the next phase we will file a monetary suit against Simon and any other affiliate that will work with him, including some websites that have Joint ventures with Simon and/or have offered to buy cameos from him," the attorney said in a statement. "Anyone that will try to capitalize from this scheme will be sued."
In a statement to NBC News, Chagit Leviev, the daughter of Lev Leviev, said the lawsuit was the "first step" to ensure that Hayut "face[s] justice and get[s] the sentence he deserves."
She continued: "Shimon Hayut is a fraud who stole our family’s identity and has tried to exploit our good name to con victims out of millions of dollars. He has no relation to the Leviev family and has no affiliation with our company LLD Diamonds."
"I am relieved that his real identity and actions have been globally exposed, and hopefully this will bring an end to his unscrupulous actions," Chagit added.
The real Leviev family
Last month, Hayut was banned from dating apps like Tinder and Hinge after the Feb. 2 release of the Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler".
In the documentary, Simon Leviev who claimed he was the son of a wealthy tycoon, took women out on extravagant dates and started relationships with them before he eventually scammed them out of large sums of money.
He had photoshopped himself to a photo of the Leviev family and used the fake photo to make people believe he is the Leviev heir.
Simon photoshopped into a Leviev family photo
In July 2019, Simon Hayut, who went by Simon Leviev to con women, was arrested in Greece and extradited back to Israel, where he was convicted of four fraud charges and ordered to compensate his victims a total of more than $43,000, The Times of Israel reported. He was released after having served only five months of his 15-month sentence.
Since his release in May 2020, Hayut has lived as a free man and regularly posted on his Instagram account, which amassed many followers.
His Instagram account has been deleted, as of early February.
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