Tinder Swindler Arrested on Interpol Red Notice

Reports confirm that Shimon Hayut – better known as Simon Leviev, the “Tinder Swindler” – has been arrested in Georgia on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice (The Guardian, The Independent). The arrest follows years of international attention after the release of the Netflix documentary which exposed how he defrauded women across Europe using dating apps.

Hayut previously served a short sentence in Israel after being arrested in Greece in 2019 on a Red Notice and extradited. His swift release at the time fuelled criticism of how ineffective international enforcement can be, even in high-profile cases.

Ben Keith, barrister and extradition specialist, spoke to Felicity Morris, director of the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, about the case, highlighting how Hayut had been able to travel freely despite the existence of international alerts. As Keith explained in an earlier interview:

“The problem with Red Notices is not their existence, it’s enforcement. Unless countries act quickly and consistently, individuals can avoid justice almost indefinitely.”

We previously addressed these issues in Why hasn’t Interpol caught the Tinder Swindler? and in an interview with Ben Keith: The Tinder Swindler: why isn’t he in jail?. Both raised concerns about enforcement gaps that leave victims without justice.

Now that he has finally been arrested, attention will turn to whether extradition proceedings are launched, and whether the victims of his frauds will at last see him face trial. His case will also be a test of whether Interpol’s Red Notice system can deliver accountability in the highest-profile cases.

We will continue to monitor developments in this case and provide updates as they unfold.

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Image: INTERPOL.INT