Netflix viewers are completely hooked by explosive true crime documentary The Tinder Swindler, which reveals the fraudulent explots of Simon Leviev - real name, Shimon Hayut.
Leviev cunningly duped multiple women out of tens of thousands of dollars, while convincing them that he was the heir to a diamond mining fortune, the Mirror Online reports.
Now one of his Tinder dates has shared her experience and how she managed to avoid becoming another of his victims.
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Speaking to the Mirror, Valeria Calpanchay said she spotted a number of concerning red flags early doors - and made a quick escape.
Valeria, who is originally from Argentina, has lived in Germany since 2018.
She met Leviev after matching with him on Tinder shortly after moving to Munich.
"I had a Tinder account by then so I saw this guy called 'Simon', who seemed good looking and that he travelled a lot," she said.
"I also love travelling, I have been to many countries, so I thought it would be nice to meet up. I was curious".
According to Valeria, Leviev "immediately" asked for her WhatsApp number, and they mainly communicated through WhatsApp in the run-up to their date.
Things moved fast from there.
Valeria said: "Our date was very spontaneous, and happened a day after we matched.
"I had just finished work and he texted saying if I was free to meet up. I think he sent a voice message".
Although Valeria "didn't have any serious suspicions" at the time, she expected that her date might not be who he said he was.
She said: "My first thought was 'millionaires are not flashing their money on Tinder... because they don't need to'.
"So I was curious to see what he was actually like".
Valeria said that for their date they met outside a hotel on one of the most expensive streets in Munich, before walking to a restaurant to grab a coffee.
Valeria said: "I remember we sat for five minutes and then he suggested we go to another place because he didn't like the menu.
"Then I went to a fancy cigar store with him because he wanted to smoke one.
After that, we went into a mall, where we finally sat at a cafe, which seemed like an expensive place as well".
She remembers Leviev as "a talkative guy", but noted that he "was more into talking about himself", remarking that it appeared "he wanted to give the impression that he was "mysterious".
At one point, Valeria asked Leviev where he was from - but he refused to give her a straight answer.
Other red flags started to emerge, including that he had two mobile phones and openly took a couple of bizarre calls while still on the date.
She claims Leviev discussed million-dollar transactions on these calls.
"It was also weird that he would talk about other girls, saying that they always sent him photos - he even showed me some," she said.
"I wouldn't trust someone who shows other girls private photos".
Their date lasted about an hour, and while she says there was "nothing too concerning" about their first meeting she couldn't work him out.
She said: "I was still not sure if he was genuine or not".
But it wasn't the last time she heard from the trickster and claims he messaged her later that night inviting her to a party at his Munich home.
She said: "It was already very late and I was in my pyjamas, so of course, I didn't feel like going.
"We had a little conversation via WhatsApp but I really didn't feel like going, so he said something like, 'I thought you were more spontaneous than that'".
Valeria first read about 'The Tinder Swindler' after somebody shared it on a Munich-related Facebook group and instantly recognised the conman as the man she'd been on a date with.
"I knew there was something not so right about him so everything made sense," she said.
After watching the Netflix show, Valeria said: "I am shocked that many women would believe him, but my theory is that he had many Tinder dates in a day and would carefully choose his victims because not everyone can fall for him. He was a professional".
Leviev has released a statement following the Netflix show, which said: “I will share my side of the story in the next few days, but I’ve sorted out the best and most respectful way to tell it both to the involved parties and myself.
"Until then, please keep an open mind and heart.”
