A California man has been federally charged for allegedly defrauding individuals of over $2 million through popular dating apps by pretending to be “financially successful and knowledgeable about investments,” according to prosecutors.
Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, from Whittier, is currently facing a 14-count federal indictment related to the alleged scheme he executed over nearly three years on platforms like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
“The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on July 2, claims that from April 2021 to February 2024, Lloyd used dating apps and websites to befriend and start romantic relationships with his victims. He deceived them into believing that he was financially prosperous and knowledgeable about investments,” the Attorney’s Office reported.
“Lloyd fraudulently induced his victims to provide money and property to him, including in the form of purported investments, by telling them he knew of investment opportunities that would benefit them. Lloyd also told his victims that he would invest their money, that they would receive regular returns on these investments, and that they could withdraw these investments at any time,” it added.
A Tinder logo is seen displayed on a smartphone and in the background. Federal prosecutors said “Lloyd used dating apps and websites to befriend and engage in romantic relationships with his victims.” (Algi Febri Sugita/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
It added that Lloyd “supported his false statements by signing contracts with victims that specified the investments that the victims were to make and setting a false schedule of investment returns” and that they then “sent him money, including via wire transfers, Cash App, Zelle, or cash payments.”
Lloyd was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from the fraud.
Christopher Earl Lloyd carried out the scam for around three years, the federal indictment alleges. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“If convicted, Lloyd would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years in federal prison for the monetary transaction count,” prosecutors said. “The FBI is investigating this matter.”
