‘Tinder Swindler’ Simon Leviev denies serial fraud in first interview

He allegedly conned desperate women out of millions by posing as a billionaire diamond heir on the dating app – but now he’s made a startling admission.

The “Tinder Swindler” — who allegedly conned desperate women out of millions by posing as a billionaire diamond heir on the dating app — insisted in his first interview that the allegations are “completely made up”.

“I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder,” Simon Leviev, whose real name is Shimon Hayut, told “Inside Edition” in a to-be-aired interview.

“I am not a Tinder swindler.”

A Netflix documentary released on February 2 fingered him as an international swindler, who tricked at least a dozen women — and identified him as a convicted Israeli fraudster.

“They present it as a documentary but in truth, it’s like a complete made-up movie,” he told EW.

His two-part “Inside Edition” interview will air on Monday and Tuesday.

Following the release of “The Tinder Swindler” documentary, Leviev was banned from dating apps. 

But the alleged scammer — who has since signed a Hollywood agent — appeared with a new lady friend in the interview saying: “I’m the biggest gentleman in the world.”

Simon Leviev, aka Shimon Huyut, on his way to LA in a limousine.

Leviev is thought to have conned women and businesses around the world out of more than £7 million ($A13.3 million).

Claiming to be the CEO of a diamond firm, the Israeli-born fraudster posed in private jets and supercars and showered online dates with lavish gifts before stinging them for cash — one UK-based victim, Cecilie Fjellhoy, shelled out £185,000 ($A351,680).

Leviev was jailed in 2019 after program makers helped police track him down, but he served just five months inside.

Tinder swindler Simon Leviev is arrested in the city of Athens, Greece, 01 July 2019. Picture: EPA-EFE/TORE KRISTIANSEN / VG NORWAY OUT

When the Netflix show premiered earlier this month, he hit back with claims that the women were all colluding to wreck his life.

He posted on Instagram: “If you can’t give them the world they want, they’ll turn yours to hell.”

But his recent social media posts show Leviev — real name Shimon Hayut — is once more living life high on the hog.

The Tinder swindler takes a selfie with one of his victims. Picture: Netflix.

Victims of The Tinder Swindler Cecilie Fjellhoy (R) and Pernilla Sjoholm in London. Picture: Joshua Wilks/Netflix

The 31-year-old, who has denied being a fraudster, is now based in Tel Aviv while flitting around the world in private jets and driving supercars, and has been enjoying dates with Vogue model Kate Konlin.

In the last few weeks, he has posted TikTok and Instagram videos showing him relaxing on a yacht, surrounded by designer handbags, and flying in a helicopter with Israeli beauty Kate — who claims he is the “the greatest man” she ever knew.

In each clip he seems to be mocking his victims, with comments such as “Love comes at a price” and “#Tindermoney#thankyou”.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced here with permission.