Cecilie Fjellhøy, one of the victims of the notorious Tinder Swindler, Simon Leviev, is now appearing on the E4 dating show 'Celebs Go Dating'. The Norwegian woman was defrauded by Leviev, who posed as a wealthy diamond heir, as documented in the Netflix hit 'The Tinder Swindler'.
Despite her traumatic experience, Fjellhøy remains optimistic about dating. 'Dating for me has always been fun,' she told BBC Newsbeat. She hopes the show will help viewers see a different side of her, separate from the documentary's portrayal.
Fjellhøy has faced misogynistic abuse online, with some labelling her a 'gold digger'. She expects further backlash from her TV appearance but says she has learned to ignore the trolling. She campaigns for better support for romance fraud victims and wants police and healthcare professionals to receive tailored training.
She expressed disappointment that Leviev is free. He was convicted of fraud in 2019 but served only five months of a 15-month sentence. Fjellhøy once saw him in a Tel Aviv beach club but says she is no longer afraid of him.
Fjellhøy advises anyone suspecting they are being scammed to confide in friends or family. She continues to receive messages from victims sharing their stories.
