"Tinder Swindler" documentary on Netflix

[intrepidity]

6. Too many unanswered questions

How, specifically, did he pull off the con? I'm talking details: how did he establish his "backstory" with all the photos of his lavish lifestyle? Yes, he was running a pyramid scheme, but how did it begin? Somewhere he had to get the first cash infusion to start the ball rolling. And how easy should it have been to discover that he wasn't part of the diamond family?

I'm always intrigued by these kinds of stories, but they inevitably leave me wondering exactly *how* it all happens.

ETA: Listened to a podcast describing how he had stolen blank checks from a family he was babysitting for, and went out and bought an expensive car--like, *how* does that even happen? Who walks into a car dealership and gives them a check--a check with someone else's name on it! -- and drives off with an expensive car? OK, maybe he got fake ID with that name, but even so, buying a car with a check, and driving off before it clears the bank? Maybe the dealership called the bank to ensure funds were available, but still.

Also, heard he and his rabbi father tried running a scam on a fellow rabbi in NYC (his dad was a prominent rabbi in Israel): rabbi dad tried to get NYC rabbi to basically launder money for him, and NYC rabbi agreed (!) and narrowly avoided the con by not giving rabbi dad the cash before the (fake) checks cleared. And at that time, introduced his son to NYC rabbi as the Leviev son (rather than his own son!) leading NYC rabbi to believe he (Simon) was the son of the diamond billionaire. Man!