Simon Leviev, the convicted fraudster better known as the 'Tinder Swindler', has sparked disbelief after announcing plans to launch his own dating app, arguing that his history of manipulating women makes him uniquely qualified to build a safer platform.
Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, says the planned app will be called Safe Love and is intended to protect women from romance scammers. His proposal has already attracted fierce criticism from the dating industry, with a major trade association urging Apple and Google not to distribute the app.
The Tinder Swindler Wants To Build 'Safe Love'
Leviev announced his plans during television appearances this month, presenting the proposed app as a new chapter in his life.
He argued that his experience with manipulation gives him an unusual understanding of how romance scams work and allows him to design technology capable of identifying and preventing similar behaviour.
Leviev has acknowledged that his reputation means he does not expect people to trust him immediately. He has said he will need to prove himself and that the platform should be regulated and receive the necessary approvals.
The proposal is particularly striking because Leviev's name became internationally associated with romance fraud after the 2022 Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler.
Why Is the Dating Industry Furious?
The Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA) has urged Apple and Google to block any dating application founded, operated or fronted by Leviev. The organisation argues that allowing a convicted fraudster to operate within the dating industry would undermine efforts to make online dating safer and combat romance fraud.
The criticism reflects a fundamental question surrounding Safe Love. Can someone who previously exploited trust be given responsibility for building a product designed to protect that same trust?
Leviev's supporters could point to his claimed understanding of scammers' techniques, but critics argue that expertise in manipulation does not automatically translate into expertise in safeguarding users.
What About the Women at the Centre of His Story?
Leviev's history remains central to the backlash.
He was convicted in Israel in 2019 of theft, fraud and forgery of documents and received a 15-month prison sentence, of which he served five months. His story later became the subject of Netflix's The Tinder Swindler.
Women featured in the documentary said they were manipulated into providing substantial amounts of money after Leviev presented himself as a wealthy businessman and claimed he was facing dangerous enemies.
Leviev has consistently denied the allegations made by those women and has previously insisted that he was not a fraudster.
Victims Took a Different Approach To Dating Safety
The irony of Leviev's proposal has been heightened by the fact that some of the women featured in his story have themselves moved into the field of fraud prevention.
Pernilla Sjöholm has worked on identity-verification technology for dating platforms, while Cecilie Fjellhøy has become an advocate for romance-fraud awareness and prevention. Another woman featured in the documentary, Ayleen Charlotte, has also worked on scam-awareness initiatives.
Their work has focused on helping potential victims recognise manipulation and improving safeguards around online identities.
That means Safe Love would enter an industry where people directly affected by Leviev's alleged conduct are already attempting to prevent similar experiences from happening to others.
Can a Former Fraudster Build a Safer Dating App?
Leviev's argument rests on the idea that understanding how scammers operate can be turned into effective technology.
There is some logic to the concept. Someone familiar with common manipulation tactics could potentially identify warning signs that developers without that experience might overlook.
But building a trustworthy dating platform requires more than recognising scam techniques. It also involves identity verification, privacy protection, moderation, financial safeguards and independent oversight.
The proposed app has not yet been established as a functioning service, and it remains unclear whether Apple or Google would approve it for their stores.
