At this point, The Tinder Swindler isn’t just a Netflix documentary about convicted conman Simon Leviev – it’s a genre.
Flashy lifestyles, chaotic finances, endless reinventions and unwavering self-belief: the formula is hard to miss.
Which may explain why comparisons have been drawn between Simon, born Shimon Hayut, and Katie Price’s husband, Lee Andrews.
Simon, who was dubbed the Tinder Swindler, famously presented himself as an ultra-wealthy businessman living a life of private jets, designer clothes and five-star hotels.
However, he supported his lavish day-to-day activities is a Ponzi scheme that left several female victims in millions of debt – an estimated $10 million in total.
Similarly, Lee has also presented himself as a wealthy businessman, claiming he’s a ‘billionaire’ with influential connections and a lavish lifestyle.
Katie Price’s ‘billionaire’ husband Lee Andrews’ actions are drawing parallels to Tinder Swindler Simon Leviev
Simon famously presented himself as an ultra-wealthy businessman but supported his lavish day-to-day activities is a Ponzi scheme that left several female victims in millions of debt
He has claimed ties to major organisations and cultivated an image of financial success, despite questions raised about his background and business dealings.
The comparisons intensified this week after Katie Price claimed that Lee had vanished under bizarre circumstances.
According to Katie, Lee disappeared mid-conversation after allegedly telling her he had been arrested and was being held in the back of a van.
For many, the similarities to the Tinder Swindler story – dramatic claims, mysterious disappearances and carefully curated luxury branding – are difficult to ignore.
Now, the Daily Mail takes a closer look at how Lee’s actions are drawing parrels to Simon.
The illusion of immense wealth
Shimon called himself the ‘Prince of Diamonds’ and claimed to be the son of billionaire Russian-Israeli diamond mogul, Lev Leviev
Shimon called himself the ‘Prince of Diamonds’ and claimed to be the son of billionaire Russian-Israeli diamond mogul, Lev Leviev – a businessman, philanthropist and investor with a net worth of $1.5billion (£1.1billion).
He funded luxurious private jet flights, five-star hotel stays, and hired bodyguards to maintain an impeccable facade.
He legally changed his name and hired staff, including assistants and a bodyguard, to make his story seem believable.
Simon would shower women he met on the dating apps with lavish trips and gifts, using money he had taken from other women.
Meanwhile Lee claimed to hold a PhD from Cambridge University, while managing a sustainable vehicle venture, Aura Worldwide Holdings Limited, from his home in the United Arab Emirates.
His ex girlfriend Alana Percival revealed that he heavily ‘love-bombed’ her early on with Cartier jewellery, Louis Vuitton bags, and cash transfers.
In April, Lee claimed he’s buying Chelsea football club just four years after current owner bought it for £4.25billion.
‘I can’t tell you all the workings and inner parts to my wealth but definitely the money is there,’ Lee told The Sun. ‘And they have to accept and they have to verify, but it will be going in.
‘It sounds crazy, it sounds ambitious, but watch this space.’
In March, he shared a variety of images and videos across social media, including a post about becoming a ‘future trillionaire’, detailing a ‘mysterious income’ and being a member of ‘the 1%’.
One post features a debonaire man standing at a bar with the words: ‘Mysterious income. Underground connections. Private life. Small circle. Hot brunette.’
He then shared an image of a yacht with the accompanying message: ‘Send this to future trillionaires’, with a voiceover detailing being worth $1,274,930,645,80.73.
Yet another nod to his success and wealth featured the quote: ‘When you love Monday morning more than Friday night. Welcome to the 1% bro’.
While there have been doubts over his alleged Cambridge education, Katie has hit back and insisted she has seen evidence of his university pedigree.
The former glamour model also revealed that she has so much trust in her new husband that she declined to sign a prenup before their whirlwind wedding.
Recycled luxury dates and proposals
Katie’s husband Lee reportedly proposed to another woman the same way just four months ago
Lee can be seen proposing to ex Alana Percival back in September in a setup that appears almost identical
Simon would frequently arrange to meet his dates at the same hotels and restaurants, most notably the Four Seasons Hotel.
Meanwhile Lee reportedly proposed to another woman the same way just four months before Katie.
The former glamour model tied the knot to the businessman in a lavish Dubai ceremony after a whirlwind ‘one-week’ romance.
However, Lee’s romantic gesture is said to mirror the proposal he made to fitness enthusiast Alana back in September, after the pair reportedly met on a Dubai beach in May.
In a photo, Lee can be seen proposing to Alana in a setup that appears almost identical. As well as rose petals and tealights spelling out ‘Will you marry me’ on the floor of a luxurious spa, both Alana and Katie were presented with a bouquet of roses, wrapped in the same brown paper.
Alana, who is the spitting image of Katie with tattoos, long hair extensions and fake tan, is understood to have invested in one of Lee’s companies, according to the publication.
She later reportedly called off the engagement after growing suspicious of Lee’s intentions.
A source told The Sun of Katie: ‘Her friends hope she’s smart enough to question his motives.’
Begging women for cash
It was reported in March by The Sun that Lee had been begging women for money just weeks before he married Katie
While Simon was projecting a millionaire lifestyle, he was desperately bleeding his victims’ credit cards dry.
Cecilie Fjellhoy, who dated Simon in 2019, said she was conned out of more than £200,000 by the con artist.
‘The thing is that they are very smart about it,’ she told presenter Lorraine Kelly in 2022. ‘He doesn’t ask for money the first time, it’s more security of the name.
‘I know it’s the same thing but when you’re in it, he’s asking “I can’t use my cards, like they’re going to track my name, can I use your card?” So that’s how they started it.’
Cecilie added: ‘He’s very smart in what he’s doing, especially he knows how to play his character, depending on who’s he with, he adapts his personality, and adapts his entire persona.’
She continued: ‘I sort of think it’s not the worst part that he did, the money, the money really affects you but it’s also about what it does psychologically to you, and breaks you down.’
Meanwhile, it was reported in March by The Sun that Lee had been begging women for money just weeks before he married Katie.
‘If you can help me or send Western Union £3000, that would help me so much. I could just do with a big hug, really,’ he reportedly said.
‘You don’t know how desperate it’s been, the last couple of months of me trying to survive.’
Lee had reportedly told her he was so poor he was forced to live off packets of rice.
The woman claims that when she refused to send him any money, he swore at her and branded her a timewaster.
His ex Alana then shared a post on Instagram calling him the ‘Tinder Swindler’.
She also claimed multiple women had contacted her saying he’d tried to scam them out of money too.
Fraud convictions
Simon has a criminal history of fraud spanning over a decade (pictured in 2019)
Simon has a criminal history of fraud spanning over a decade.
In 2015, he was convicted of defrauding three women and served two years in a Finnish prison.
Four years later he was convicted on four fraud-related charges (including theft and forgery) and sentenced to 15 months in prison in Israel.
He was released after serving just five months.
Last year, he was extradited from Georgia to face European warrants regarding fraud allegations.
He subsequently entered into a plea agreement in Munich that resulted in a one-year suspended sentence.
Meanwhile Lee was reportedly ‘banged up in Dubai hellhole jail’ just weeks before marrying Katie.
He allegedly spent three weeks in prison for fraud, resulting in him being unable to leave the country, a claim he has denied.
Faking documents
Simon claimed he was a wanted man constantly fleeing authorities across European borders using fake passports
Simon claimed he was a wanted man constantly fleeing authorities across European borders using fake passports.
He spent money on plane tickets, hotels and dinners that were booked under her name to throw off suspicious ‘enemies’.
‘One of the main reasons why he needed it was protection…he needed my name as a cover, he said,’ Cecilie told Nightline in 2019.
‘I know it sounds crazy…[but] why would he have this giant guy with him if he didn’t need the protection?,’ she said, apparently referring to a bodyguard.
Meanwhile Lee reportedly used a ‘proof-of-funds’ video sent to journalists to display his personal wealth.
Assistant Editor of The Sun, Clemmie Moodie, claimed she is the latest of Lee’s victims, after being conned out of £1,000.
She reports Katie was also promised money from Lee and had showed her cheques he’d seemingly deposited into her account, but the funds never emerged.
Additionally, she was said to have been handed a credit card, which didn’t work. The television personality is said to have believed this was due to an incorrect pin.
Claiming their lives are in danger
Katie has said she believes Lee has been taken, after he ‘went dark’ mid conversation last week after telling her he had been arrested
Simon famously conned women by pretending his ‘enemies’ were after him.
He would send frantic videos of himself or his bodyguard in ambulances/hospitals to beg for emergency money.
Meanwhile Katie uploaded a vlog begging her fans and the media to help her find her ‘kidnapped’ husband Lee, who first went missing last week.
Katie has said she believes Lee has been taken, after he ‘went dark’ mid conversation last week after telling her he had been arrested.
The model has released her last communication with Lee in the hope it will help track him down.
In the messages, which were sent from 12.36am to 1.01am early last Thursday morning in Dubai time, the so-called ‘businessman’ told her: ‘Been arrested. I’ll be in touch. I’m ok xx.’
Trying to get more details, Katie replied within five minutes asking him: ‘Where? Why? I’m worried’ and told her husband she loved him.
Lee then revealed he didn’t know where he was being taken as they had his ‘other phone’.
Katie asked: ‘If they take your phone how will I get hold of you? Should I have your dad’s number?’
Lee shared his live location and told her to contact the embassy and that he was being taken to a ‘black site’.
The Sun also reports he gave his father’s number to Katie as an emergency contact.
The live location then ended with the message: ‘Keep that on babe. Love you’.
Lee then appeared to backtrack on his claims that he was arrested as he told Katie: ‘It’s a black site, I love you, I sort it. I’m in the van… just being detained wtf.’
A friend told The Sun: ‘Katie has been completely spiralling, as you can imagine. This is NOT a publicity stunt – as if she needs any more PR – and no matter what Lee has or hasn’t done, she still loves him.
‘These WhatsApps prove that she is as blindsided as the rest of us as to Lee’s movements. She is not in on it, whatever “it” is.
‘She wants anyone with information to contact her or the police with information that might help find him.’
They added she wants to know Lee is safe and then can start ‘asking him some serious questions’.
