Simon Leviev—born Shimon Yehuda Hayut—is officially pivoting. The man who gained global infamy as the 'Tinder Swindler' for his extensive romance fraud schemes is launching a new dating app called Safe Love. Leviev, 36, is betting that his history of forgery, theft, and fraud makes him the ultimate expert in identifying the exact tricks scammers use. Comparing his career arc to that of Frank Abagnale Jr., the con man turned fraud consultant from 'Catch Me If You Can,' Leviev claims he has 'paid his debts' and is ready to fix the environment he once exploited. ## The Features Leviev claims the app will be built on high-security identity verification. Users will be required to upload government IDs and take real-time selfies; the app will reportedly reject profile photos that deviate more than 15% from the verification selfie to prevent catfishing. He is also planning an integrated SOS button that records audio and video while alerting law enforcement if a user feels threatened on a date. ## The Backlash Not everyone is vibing with the idea. The Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA) is highkey pushing back, sending letters to Apple and Google to urge them to ban the app from their stores. They argue that giving a convicted romance fraudster control over a platform built on user trust is a massive L for safety. Leviev, however, says the pushback won't stop him, adding that he's under immense pressure to get it perfect because he knows any technical glitch will immediately result in him being 'guilty as charged.' ## Why it matters Whether this is a genuine redemption arc or a major red flag is up for debate. Leviev argues he isn't the same person he was at 19, but for millions, his brand is synonymous with financial exploitation. If the app hits the market, it’ll be a wild social experiment in whether users are willing to trust a known manipulator to protect them from the very game he once mastered.