The Tinder Swindler

The Tinder Swindler is one of the stand-out true crime documentaries that Shanakee has worked on for Netflix. It charts the deception that Simon Leviev (born Shimon Hayut) executed via the eponymous dating app to trick women into lending him money which he never intended to return. It is estimated that he amassed millions of dollars this way.

For this project, made by Raw TV, Shanakee were the archive producing team handling hundreds of photos and videos that were used to create the visual impression of an online dating app. We assessed the copyright status of each item and determined whether they could be licensed. These included items supplied by victims of Leviev’s fraud. We managed the material sensitively, continually keeping in mind that at the heart of this gripping story were people who had been terribly affected by Leviev’s actions.

The archive material we worked with for this documentary was not limited to individuals’ personal online content. We also negotiated licensing costs and terms with a variety of international news channels, newspapers, magazines, film-makers and photographers. 

Significant clips from high profile Hollywood movies were also used to portray the ideals and expectations of people looking for romance. 


The Times described the documentary as “the Jaws of internet dating documentaries” while The Guardian said it was “snappy and smart and leaves you wanting more”.

Key people we worked with:

  • Director: Felicity Morris
  • Editor: Julian Hart
  • Producers: Bernadette Higgins,
  • Line Producer: Sian Packer