Crooked Facts About Modern-Day Swindlers
Modern-day swindlers possess an arsenal of tactics—social media, pop psychology, and high tech—that plant them directly into their victims’ lives. And, they have the advantage that con artists have always had: They feel no guilt for ruining other people’s lives. That is a dangerous combo. Let’s take a look at these modern scammers who put their time, hard work, and ingenuity all into the pursuit of the same thing: easy money.
1. They Swiped Right
Not a lot of thought usually goes into whether you swipe right or left on your Tinder app—but what if the wrong swipe could cost you thousands of dollars?
That’s exactly what happened to women who pursued dates with a man who called himself Simon Leviev. While a lot of dates you arrange through an app turn out to be duds, Leviev would turn up as that mythological creature: the perfect man.
2. He Ticked All The Boxes
Leviev was handsome—but so are a lot of men. What made Leviev stand out was what he had to offer. He was capable of taking dates to five-star restaurants and hotels, and even on trips on a private jet. But it wasn’t just about money, Leviev also spoke about having a true connection with women, which made them putty in his hands.
What made Leviev so successful as a manipulator, however, was that he understood his victims’ needs and proceeded to hand them over. The one sad thing? It was all a lie.
3. He Was Serial
But how did Leviev convince his victim’s that he was actually wealthy? Leviev's plan was to go from one woman to another, but instead of breaking their hearts, he was breaking their bank accounts.
He used the proceeds from his last mark in order to impress the new one. It was a flawless scheme that preyed on women’s desire, curiosity, and love of luxury. But how long could it last?
4. He Kept His Distance
The first thing that Leviev did was to start long-distance relationships with his victims. That way, he didn’t have to keep up the charade of wealth for long periods of time. The second thing he did was drop hints that his family was wealthy.
He never actually said the name of his rich family, but he didn’t have to for one good reason: He knew how people ticked.
