'The Tinder Swindler': Simon Leviev is being sued by Israeli diamond family

The subject of the popular Netflix documentary allegedly posed as a member of the Israeli family that owns LLD Diamonds

The lawsuit accuses Simon of defamation, invasion of privacy and breach of trademarks. Photo: Instagram / @simon_leviev_official

The subject of the wildly popular Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, Simon Leviev, is being sued by the Israeli diamond tycoon family he allegedly posed as a member of.

Shimon Hayut legally changed his name to Simon Leviev, and is accused in the film of telling women he met on dating app Tinder that he was the son of Lev Leviev, who owns LLD Diamonds. He is accused of then swindling his victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars after wooing them with his lavish lifestyle.

Lev’s daughter, Chagit Leviev, told E! News that the family plans to bring a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Simon to "face justice and get the sentence he deserves".

"Shimon Hayut is a fraud who stole our family's identity and has tried to exploit our good name to con victims out of millions of dollars," she said. "He has no relation to the Leviev family and has no affiliation with our company LLD Diamonds.

"I am relieved that his real identity and actions have been globally exposed, and hopefully this will bring an end to his unscrupulous actions."

A lawsuit filed in Tel Aviv, Israel, states that Simon "has been making false representations as being the son of Lev Leviev and receiving numerous benefits (including material ones)”.

The suit, which names Zevulun Leviev, Ayelet Leviev Jacobson, Ruthy Leviev Yelizerov and Hagit Sofiev Leviev as plaintiffs, as well as company LLD Diamonds USA, LLC also claims he "defrauded, cheated, conned, falsified, and hurt women, men and businesses" while using the family’s "wealthy" reputation.

The suit also makes reference to the photo that was shown in the Netflix documentary, in which Simon is alleged to have Photoshopped himself alongside Lev and Ayelet “as proof of being a Leviev family member, thereby making a misrepresentation that he is a part of the family, and did so to generate personal profit and mislead the public".

The lawsuit accuses Simon of defamation, invasion of privacy and breach of trademarks.

In a statement given to E! News, a representative for Simon said: "Simon believes the family is just trying to insert themselves in the narrative for publicity after the show's success.

"Simon also legally changed his name in 2015 and looks forward to this getting thrown out in court."

Simon has not been charged with any crimes in connection with The Tinder Swindler. He was arrested in Greece in 2019 after being caught using a fake passport, thanks to information from one of the women he is alleged to have conned. He was sent back to Israel, where he was jailed on charges unconnected to the events of the Netflix show dating back to 2011. He served five months in prison before being released early for good behaviour.