Shivangi Sinha
In January 2018, Cecilie Fjellhøy matched with Simon Leviev on Tinder and believed she had found someone with real long-term potential. He swept her away with lavish trips and luxury experiences, but soon claimed his life was in danger and convinced her to let him use her credit cards to book travel and expenses for himself and his team. Very quickly, Cecilie found herself deep in debt, only to later discover that her suitor was none other than the Tinder Swindler, Shimon Hayut. Determined to turn her painful experience into purpose, Cecilie has since launched initiatives to raise awareness about romance fraud and support others who have been targeted. Netflix’s ‘Love Con Revenge’ covers her journey as she teams up with private investigator Brianne Joseph to uncover similar scams and pursue justice against con artists.
Cecilie Fjellhøy Allegedly Met the Tinder Swindler in London
Cecilie Fjellhøy’s life changed forever in January 2018, when she matched on Tinder with a man who introduced himself as Simon Leviev, the supposed heir to a diamond empire. At the time, she had just moved from Oslo to London to pursue her master’s degree, and she was eager to build connections in a new city. Simon’s profile, full of private jets and luxury cars, intrigued her, and when they met in person, his charisma and confidence made him instantly convincing. Soon, she found herself whisked away on glamorous trips, surrounded by his so-called “team,” including a bodyguard and even his ex-partner. To Cecilie, everything seemed real. What she didn’t realize was that she was being drawn into one of the most infamous alleged scams of the decade.
After a whirlwind of romance, she said that Simon began claiming he was under threat from enemies in the diamond world. He allegedly said he could no longer use his own credit cards for safety reasons and asked to borrow hers. Believing she was helping the man she loved, Cecilie complied until the mounting debt reached unbearable levels. By the time she felt she was being conned, she had lost more than £188,000. The man she thought was Simon Leviev was actually Shimon Hayut, later dubbed the “Tinder Swindler.” He was arrested in 2019 for traveling on a forged passport but was released in 2020, while Cecilie was left to deal with the financial and emotional aftermath. The betrayal sent her into psychiatric care as she struggled with the reality that her relationship had been a carefully constructed illusion.
Cecilie Fjellhøy is Running a Resource Organization to Help Others Today
In 2018, Cecilie Fjellhøy reached out to the Norwegian magazine Verdens Gang with her story, and by 2019, the publication released the groundbreaking article titled ‘The Tinder Swindler.’ The story gained international traction. In 2022, Netflix released its hit documentary, which was the same name, featuring Cecilie recounting her painful experiences and helping shed light on romance fraud on a global scale. At the time, Cecilie was working as a UX Designer at Sopra Steria, a role she had held since August 2012. She remained in that position until February 2022, but during those years, she openly shared how she struggled under the crushing weight of debt, hounded by creditors for loans she had taken on during her relationship with Simon Leviev.
Despite this, she refused to let the ordeal define her. The unexpected platform brought her an influx of messages from others who had also been defrauded, and Cecilie realized she could transform her story into a force for change. Since then, she has traveled the world as a speaker on fraud detection and prevention, becoming a sought-after voice at major conferences. Her appearances include the Nordic Fraud Conference, TOP CEO Dubai, and FFECON, where she worked to challenge the stigma around being a fraud victim and reframe the narrative toward empowerment.
In January 2023, Cecilie took her mission further by co-founding LoveSaid, a victim-centered organization that provides education, resources, and support for those who have experienced fraud. The initiative functions as a community and a resource hub for individuals navigating similar trauma. Most recently, in June 2025, she began working with Charm Security as a Scam Defense Advisor & Experience Designer, using her personal experience and professional expertise to help design innovative solutions against social-engineered fraud.
Cecilie Fjellhøy is a Reputed and Celebrated Public Speaker
Cecilie Fjellhøy has built a career by combining her professional expertise with her lived experiences, leveraging both to make a substantial impact. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences and graduated in 2012. She later pursued a Master’s in Digital Experience Design at Hyper Island in 2017. By 2018, she had established herself in London and was balancing her thesis work with her role at Sopra Steria, and from that point forward, her journey showed no signs of slowing down. In addition to her career in design and user experience, Cecilie has become a recognized public figure and advocate.
She co-authored ‘Swindled Never After: How We Survived (and You Can Spot) a Relationship Scammer’ alongside Pernilla Sjöholm and became a voice for those who have experienced fraud. The book not only shares her personal story but also provides valuable insights into identifying and avoiding scammers and offers guidance and solidarity to countless readers. Cecilie is highly sought after for public speaking engagements, where she shares her story bravely. Her influence extends across multiple platforms, with appearances on well-known podcasts such as ‘Fraudible’ and the BBC’s ‘Bad People.’ Beyond speaking, she actively creates content to raise awareness around fraud and victim support, ensuring her message reaches diverse audiences. Today, Cecilie is recognized not only as a survivor but also as a leader who continues to use her voice and platform to educate, empower, and inspire.
Related
Cecilie Fjellhøy is Open to Dating and Finding a Partner
On a personal level, Cecilie Fjellhøy has been open about rebuilding her life beyond the shadow of past experiences. In a 2022 interview with The Sun, she shared that she had returned to dating and even rejoined Tinder. She said that she never blamed the platform itself for what happened, and it was, in her view, simply a tool. While she has chosen to keep details of her romantic life private, she did appear as a contestant on ‘Celebs Go Dating.’ Family remains an important anchor for Cecilie, and she is particularly close to her mother, Hilde. In March 2024, the two enjoyed a trip together to Tenerife, Spain. She always makes time for such moments with her loved ones despite having such a busy schedule.
