By Steve Conley, Academy of Life Planning
We often say that even the darkest events in life can carry the seeds of purpose. That purpose, when nurtured, becomes a gift we give to others. Few embody this truth more powerfully than Ayleen Charlotte.
Ayleen was thrust into the public eye through the 2022 Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, which exposed a global romance scam that deceived and devastated victims. But Ayleen’s story doesn’t end in victimhood. Instead, it marks the beginning of a mission—a mission to transform trauma into empowerment and bring empathy into the heart of organisational response.
I had the privilege of meeting Ayleen last week. Our conversation quickly revealed a shared commitment: to equip individuals and institutions with the tools to support those affected by financial exploitation—not just with policy, but with compassion.
Introducing S.A.F.E. – Scam Awareness & Fraud Education
Ayleen has since developed S.A.F.E., a specialist training programme for corporates, banks, and frontline responders. Delivered face-to-face over a full day, S.A.F.E. equips professionals with psychological insights, trauma-informed communication techniques, and practical tools to help fraud victims “break the spell.”
The training is specifically tailored for:
- Bank and call-centre staff
- Police officers and first responders
- Victim support workers
- Financial professionals and advisers
The modules are grounded in lived experience and include topics such as:
- The emotional and cognitive manipulation tactics used by fraudsters
- How to communicate without blame or shame
- Reframing the narrative to help victims reclaim agency
- Long-term support strategies beyond financial recovery
“Fraud is more than a financial issue—it’s a deeply human one. With the right tools, your team can be the difference between a victim feeling isolated or empowered.” – Ayleen Charlotte
A New Era of Victim-Centred Practice
At the Academy of Life Planning, we champion survivors who use their lived experience as a beacon for others. Ayleen does this in spades. Her work complements our own programmes like Rebuild and Thrive and Goliathon, which help victims regain purpose, challenge systemic barriers, and reimagine their future.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that the “worst” chapters of our lives are often the ones that shape us into who we’re meant to become. That even pain, when alchemised, becomes purpose.
Let’s Build Trauma-Informed Institutions Together
If you’re part of an organisation that interacts with the public—particularly around finance, trust, or vulnerability—I urge you to explore Ayleen’s training. Integrating S.A.F.E. into your operations isn’t just good risk management—it’s leadership in action.
You can learn more and contact Ayleen at:
🌐 www.ayleencharlotte.com
📧 ayleen@ayleencharlotte.com
Together, let’s shift from reaction to prevention, from silence to support—and from extraction to empowerment.
The Tinder Swindler: A Cautionary Tale for the Digital Age
The Tinder Swindler is a gripping 2022 Netflix true-crime documentary directed by Felicity Morris. It tells the extraordinary story of Shimon Hayut, an Israeli conman who assumed the false identity of “Simon Leviev,” the alleged heir to a diamond fortune. Using Tinder as his hunting ground, Hayut charmed women across Europe with lavish gifts and private jet trips—funded not by wealth, but by money stolen from previous victims.
Hayut orchestrated a complex Ponzi scheme, manipulating victims with fabricated tales of danger and persecution from fictitious “enemies.” These emotional appeals led many women to take out loans and drain their savings to help him, believing their lives together depended on it. The scam is believed to have defrauded victims of over $10 million.
Yet, what sets this story apart is not just the deception—but the strength of the women who fought back. After uncovering the fraud, several victims united to expose Hayut’s crimes, culminating in his arrest in Greece in 2019. Though sentenced to 15 months in prison, he served only five.
The documentary became one of Netflix’s most-watched releases, sparking global awareness about the emotional and financial toll of romance fraud—and the critical need for better safeguards in our digital lives.
To support or refer someone to Get SAFE, visit the Academy website.
Together, we can turn victims into victors and restore what was taken—one life at a time.
About Get SAFE
Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) was born from a simple truth: too many victims of financial abuse are left to suffer in silence.
We exist for people like Ian—for the ones who did everything right, only to be failed by the systems they trusted. We know that behind every vanished pension, every ignored complaint, and every stonewalled letter is a person—frightened, exhausted, and too often alone.
Get SAFE offers more than sympathy. We offer structure, support, and solidarity.
We provide a voice where there’s been silence, and clarity where there’s been confusion.
We stand beside those who have been exploited, not just to help them recover—but to help them reclaim their story and rebuild their future.
Because financial justice is not a luxury.
It’s a human right.
If you or someone you know has been affected by financial exploitation, we are here.
You are not alone.
Learn more at: Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation).
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