Shimon Yehuda Hayut, who was later known under the aliases of Simon Leviev, Shimon Jaglom, and Michael HJames, was arrested on Sunday at Batumi International Airport in southwestern Georgia. Interpol subsequently issued a red notice that resulted in the arrest. According to his lawyer, the basis for his detention—indeed the very reasons why they are holding him—are still unclear.
Hayut, 31, had been living a jet-setting lifestyle around the world with multiple aliases and powerful connections while having a criminal history. In 2019, they found him guilty on four counts, including fraud, forgery and theft. As it turned out, he only served 15 months in prison total. Unfortunately, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he only served five months. Following his release, Israeli authorities extradited him back to Israel from Greece. He has just been ordered to pay his victims £35,000 in compensation and fined about £4,600 for possession of a fake passport.
In the story, between 2017 and 2019, Hayut employed an elaborate con that swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from many unsuspecting women on the popular dating app Tinder. He falsely posed as Lev Leviev’s son, claiming membership in one of the world’s richest families. Instead, he seduced young women into a underworld of glamour and trickery. His early dates always involved a huge, memorable production. He would book private jets and bodyguards, the latter to intimidate potential victims and attempt to impress them.
Cecilie Fjellhøy, one of Hayut’s victims, revealed that she lent him more than $270,000 during their romance. Their torrid love affair began with an extravagant first date in Bulgaria. He whisked her away from London on his private plane. Hayut’s charisma put an alluring spell on his victims. The luxury that enveloped him helped obfuscate his purpose —conning women out of an estimated £7.4 million.
Now, the arrest has started a national conversation about the unexpected perils of online dating and the vulnerabilities that come with it. Hayut’s case should be a warning to all to be more vigilant and careful when interacting with people online.
“I spoke with him this morning after he was detained, but we don’t yet understand the reason.” – Hayut’s lawyer
Hayut has been pulling the wool over authorities’ eyes for years—even as his legal woes stack up. This brings into question the efficacy of international law enforcement in pursuing internationally recognized high-profile fugitives.
Despite his legal troubles, Hayut’s ability to evade authorities for an extended period raises questions about the effectiveness of international law enforcement collaboration in tracking high-profile fugitives.