Behind The Tinder Swindler: The Real Diamond Magnet: Chagit Leviev

Chagit Leviev is president and CEO of Leviev Group USA, comprised of Leviev Diamonds, the largest privately held diamond firm to control all facets of the diamond pipeline, from mine to market, as well as interests in other industries including real estate, technology and retail.

 

As CEO, Ms. Leviev has formulated the company’s response to an unprecedented challenge – that presented by the “Tinder Swindler,” the con man who bilked countless companies and unsuspecting women out of millions by posing as a scion of the billionaire Leviev family. The bizarre story became a global sensation after being portrayed in a Netflix documentary; currently, it ranks as the network’s most-watched documentary ever.

 

Tinder Swindler “assumed” her Corporate Identity

 

What is not as evident to Netflix viewers is that Chagit Leviev’s position within her family’s business empire is the very role that the fraudster pretended to have. “It’s like I’m an identity theft victim of his,” says Ms. Leviev. “He wasn’t just presenting himself as a family member, he claimed he was the CEO of our U.S. diamond operations,” she explains. She has seen over 100 fake company checks made by the con artist – checks that she would have had to sign as the CEO. “He has definitely been living his life claiming that he’s the CEO of Leviev Diamonds in the USA.”

 

Elegant Response to “Tinder Swindler” Con Artist

 

Chagit devised her family’s graceful response to this disturbing situation, not only initiating legal action against the scammer, but also by collaborating with the women featured in the Netflix show on a product whose proceeds will go toward recouping their devastating financial losses.

 

“These women were courageous enough to go on Netflix and tell the whole world how they were deceived,” says Ms. Leviev. “I understood their pain as women, and I wanted to reach out to them to offer our support to do something together that would bring this to an amazing close.”

 

Stronger Together: Support for Tinder Swindler’s Victims

 

Determined to help turn around the unfortunate circumstances faced by the brave women in the Netlix show, Chagit took action. “Now they’re going to be talking to the real Leveiv family,” she says.

 

She proposed that the women design jewelry that will be sold on the company’s website, leviev.com, with all net proceeds going to the three. Calling the project “Stronger Together,” the piece is a bracelet with two rings that are interlocked within each other, indicating that the world is round, and things do come full circle. Two genuine diamonds symbolize that the real diamond family is now collaborating with the women.

 

The women, Chagit adds, are very excited about this venture.

 

“Stronger Together” also signifies the three women coming together, speaking up, not caring if they are judged for trying to fight for justice for what happened to them.

 

“Together they can make a change,” says Ms. Leviev. “If they each would tell a story separately, no one would believe them. The fact that they all came together is putting a stop to what this guy was doing.”

 

A business executive, mother of four and active philanthropist, Chagit attributes her compassionate nature to the morals and values instilled in her by her parents.

 

Now that the Lieviev family has piqued the world’s curiosity by being unwillingly drawn into this viral story, Park magazine sat down with Chagit, an actual member of the Leviev clan, to talk about her life and career.

 

Life-changing Move to U.S.

 

Chagit Leivev’s move to New York in 2012 at age 25 to take over the company’s US arm turned out to be the biggest turning point of her life. The welcome was not quite what she expected; facing some resistance, she had to gain control of the company and recalibrate the way the business had been operating until then. “I was 25 when I moved to New York, and I couldn’t believe my strength and the capabilities I found within myself. It really turned me into the person that I am today,” she says.

 

After arriving in New York, she was also CEO of the real estate firm Africa Israel USA, which is behind prominent Manhattan residential projects including District at 111 Fulton Street; 20 Pine – The Collection by Armani Casa; 15 Broad – Downtown by Philippe Starck; The Apthorp; and 88 Leonard Street, as well as The Marquis Residences on Brickell Avenue in Miami.

 

Chagit’s expertise in real estate financing, investment, development, asset management and leasing came into play in 2015, as she presided over the firm’s sale of the former New York Times building in Times Square.

 

Corporate Rise

 

Growing up, Chagit’s family moved often, between Israel, Belgium and the U.K., and she is fluent in six languages, something she considers an advantage in business. “People shouldn’t gossip next to me in another language because I’m probably going to understand it,” she quips.

 

While she always knew she would join the family business, she didn’t know in what capacity. One of nine siblings, Chagit observed her older sisters’ experiences upon entering the company. “You always get judged when you are the daughter of the boss. People consider you incapable, not smart enough, bossy,” she says. After graduating from Bar Ilan University, she did a round of short internships at various divisions in the company, from Zara to the diamond department. She then decided to work outside the family business, joining the consulting firm Deloitte, in order to gain knowledge and experience.

 

It was tough, often requiring long hours and sacrificing time spent with family. “It really gave me good experience of what it is to be just another employee,” she explains.

 

A few years later, her father offered her the job as CFO of Memorand Group, a holding company, ignoring Chagit’s protests that since she was still quite young and had recently had a baby, she was unsuited for the position. “You can do it. It’s yours. Good luck,” he told her.

 

“This is just who my father is,” she says of her dad, Lev Leviev, a renowned businessman and philanthropist, founder of the Leviev Group and famous for having broken the world’s diamond monopoly that was once controlled by De Beers. “He always throws us into the deep water and trusts us to figure out how to swim out.”

 

Faith, Family is Central

 

Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, Shabbat was always devoted to family, “My parents have been together for over 45 years, raising nine kids and now dozens of grandchildren,” says Chagit. “Family has always been a priority. No matter how busy my father was, and how many countries he was traveling to every week, on Shabbat, he would be back home with all of us.”

 

Even with her high-pressure job, Chagit continues that tradition. Disconnecting completely from work and being with family provides a separation, and allows her to regain strength and energy for the week ahead.

 

Philanthropy

 

Her parents have always been passionate about charity, and through their philanthropic efforts have established hundreds of schools, community centers, temples, orphanages and hospitals worldwide. The Heart Center at Sheba Medical Center in Israel is named for Ms. Leviev’s parents.

 

Chagit continues that legacy, striving to make a difference in the world and help those less fortunate by working with many charities focusing on community, education, and women’s empowerment.

 

Jewish Woman Entrepreneur

 

She serves as president of a school in Queens established by her family, and sits on the boards of various organizations including the Jewish Woman Entrepreneur, or JWE, which provides women with resources, education, mentorship and connections to achieve their personal and professional goals, and Batsheva, which offers motivational support to empower accomplished career women.

 

Chagit is on the executive committee and also serves as a business mentor for Ezras Nashim, a group of all-female EMTs in the Orthodox community. “They have saved many lives, delivered babies. It does incredible work, and is something that I love to support,” she says.

 

As a business leader, wife, and mother of four, she is sought-after as a speaker by women’s organizations, eager to learn how she juggles these demanding roles. Many follow her on Instagram, where – somehow – Chagit finds time to promote her charitable endeavors.

 

She also took to the platform shortly after the Netflix documentary came out in February to clarify that the Leviev family had had no connection with the scammer in any way. “I cannot fathom how our name got entangled with Netflix’s documentary, The Tinder Swindler,” she posted. “As it still seems to be unclear to many, I’d like to clarify that Simon is NOT a real brother of the Leviev family and has neither been a part of our company @llddiamonds. Shimon (Hayut by his real name) is a fraud who stole our identity, and has tried to exploit our good name to con victims out of millions of dollars. I feel terrible for his victims and for what they have been through.” She added that though her family hadn’t been aware of the extent of his fraud, they had reported him to the Israeli authorities on several occasions. llddiamonds.com