The Tinder Swindler - Review: using your love

How do you become a victim? The new Netflix documentary, The Tinder Swindler, is about a man who says his name is Simon Leviev. He pretends to be a millionaire in Tinder's dating app.

He gains the trust of the women and then starts asking for money. He dates many women, and one pays the expenses of the other. Strange? Maybe, but it worked for a long time. Too long.

Why did you believe that man?

As soon as the story became public, many people blamed the victims. How could they be so naive? How could they not get suspicious?

When watching the documentary is pretty evident that something is wrong, but that is our perception now. We are already looking for leads that he is not who he says he is. It's easier that way. These women were involved, and psychology worked against them.

He poses as a rich man. Money is a key to safety these days. So, he makes them feel safe. He is kind, generous, and in danger. He shows himself vulnerable. Many people don't realize how being vulnerable towards someone else is the best way to be powerful. But, he did know that and built the perfect plan.

Many points were against these women. One of them was the fact that he pretended to be a millionaire. He doesn't need money, right? He is just having a momentary problem. So there is no reason for them not to believe that he would pay them back.

There was another point of significant importance: they were in love, and he was at imminent risk. They didn't have time to think (or so he made them believe).

Justice?

As annoying as it is that people still blame the victim, that's not the most revolting of this story.

What can really get to your nerves is the fact that he is still free. This man had few to zero consequences, while his victims are paying loans and drowning in debt.

If it is too good to be true… probably it isn’t

I liked the documentary very much. You may feel it a bit difficult to follow up with so much traveling, but that isn't the important part at all. Just ignore the place and focus on his actions.

It is a good warning of the elaborate schemes you may find online. Definitely worth watching.

Comments

Gen V Season 2: From Cameos to Confidence

I wasn’t a huge fan of Gen V ’s first season . For me, it lived more on cameos and ties to The Boys than on its own merits. It often felt like an extended piece of world-building rather than a show that could stand on its own. Season 2, though, feels different. For the first time, Gen V is carving out its own identity. The storylines are more engaging, the stakes feel higher, and it’s not just hanging on the shadow of Homelander or Vought headlines. The Highs and Lows of Performance That said, not everything works. The acting is uneven—some scenes land with the intended emotional weight, but others feel awkward enough that I wondered how they made it past editing. On top of that, the show piles on so much interpersonal drama and mystery that it occasionally slips into Scooby-Doo territory: a gang of young heroes pulling at conspiratorial threads, but without enough grounding to keep every subplot compelling. A Thoughtful Tribute One aspect the show handles beautifull...

Zero Day (Netflix): When Power, Fear, and Truth Collide

What happens when society’s most terrifying vulnerability—our digital infrastructure—suddenly collapses? Netflix ’s political thriller Zero Day dares to explore exactly that. Starring Robert De Niro as former U.S. President George Mullen, alongside Angela Bassett , Lizzy Caplan , Jesse Plemons , and Dan Stevens , this six-part miniseries blends conspiracy, paranoia, and deeply human drama into a story that feels both timely and unsettling. A Premise That Feels Too Possible The series kicks off with a catastrophic cyberattack that leaves the nation in chaos. It’s not just thrilling entertainment—it’s frighteningly plausible. Watching events spiral out of control, you can’t help but ask yourself: could this actually happen? Twists That Keep You Guessing From backroom deals to sudden betrayals, Zero Day is packed with sharp turns. You might think you know where it’s going, but the finale delivers a conclusion that’s both surprising and thought-provoking. Jesse Plemo...

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story - review

While I found the pacing of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story slow and, at times, even boring, the show shines in one particular area: its psychological depth. What kept me engaged wasn’t the storytelling rhythm, but the way it explored two very distinct and haunting personalities under the same roof. Two Sides of the Same Violence The series captures the sharp contrast between Lyle and Erik brilliantly. On one side, we see the volatile, angry, and violent brother—unpredictable but outwardly dominant, always ready to explode. On the other side, there is the insecure, fragile “mouse” of the family—timid, hesitant, almost paralyzed by fear. Yet, what makes Erik compelling is that under the right conditions, even he can lash out violently, especially when pulled into the orbit of his more aggressive brother. The dynamic between them feels like a nightmare recipe: one commanding, the other submissive, but both carrying destructive potential. The Many Shape...

All Forms of Art

Search This Blog