4 Red Flags That Can Help You Spot Con Artists Like the "Tinder Swindler"
Rule of thumb: never give more than you’re willing to walk away with.
The pandemic has left many feeling bored and lonely and unfortunately, there’s been a rise in romance-related fraud in recent years. Netflix’s The Tinder Swindler has brought attention to these scams, documenting how con artist “Simon Leviev,” whose real name is Shimon Hayut, scammed women out of thousands of dollars. Since the release of the film, the victims have launched a GoFundMe in an attempt to reclaim their lives and finances.
Read on for some signs that can help you identify con men like Hayut and avoid the chaos of online dating-related fraud.
1. They avoid meeting face to face, or even with a video call.
Video calls have become the newest virtual vibe check before meeting in person. If someone doesn’t want to meet or even show face, they may have something to hide.
2. They don’t have any tagged photos with loved ones or peers.
It’s 2022. By this point, even if it’s a finsta, a private hidden account, they’ll probably have at least one tagged post or at least some engagement on their social media.
3. They ask you for money even though you’ve never met them.
The Tinder Swindler is a perfect example of why this is never okay. He manipulate these women and played on their emotions to get what he needed out of them. Rule of thumb: never give more than you are willing to walk away with.
4. You have a bad gut feeling.
Intuition is a survival skill, so if an alarm goes off during interactions, something might actually be off. Take notes of the red flag(s) you notice and ask yourself whether the relationship is a safe environment for you.
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