California Man Faces Federal Charges in Alleged Dating App Scam
A 39-year-old California man, Christopher Earl Lloyd, was arrested on a 14-count federal indictment for allegedly defrauding victims of millions of dollars through fraudulent schemes on dating apps. The Justice Department in the Central District of California released the indictment detailing Lloyd’s activities, which reportedly took place between April 2021 and February 2024. According to the indictment, Lloyd utilized popular dating platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to form romantic relationships with his victims. Under false pretenses, he misrepresented his financial status and professional background to persuade them to invest money with him.
Once he secured these funds, he allegedly diverted them for his personal gain. Lloyd purportedly claimed to have recently completed real estate transactions, have extensive experience as a finance manager, and hold titles such as vice president of a fictitious company called 13 Holdings. He created an illusion of expertise in investments, assuring victims of regular returns and guaranteeing that their investments were “insured” up to a significant amount. The indictment states that he even assured victims they could withdraw their investment at any time.
To reinforce his deceptive practices, Lloyd provided contracts that outlined the supposed investments and fabricated a schedule of returns. Victims were instructed to send money to various bank accounts he controlled using methods such as wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App, or cash transactions. Instead of making genuine investments, Lloyd reportedly used the funds for personal expenses, including a $40,000 check to a Lexus dealership in Southern California. The indictment lists at least five victims, who collectively transferred over $2 million to Lloyd, with individual amounts ranging from $15,500 to $110,000.
Charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count related to monetary transactions from the fraud, Lloyd made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana and remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the monetary transaction charge.