A California man has been indicted on 14 federal charges for a scheme in which prosecutors allege he used multiple dating apps to lure victims with false promises of romance, only to be defrauded. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the indictment on Thursday, July 24, identifying 39-year-old Christopher Earl Lloyd of Whittier as the man behind the scheme.
Prosecutors said the plot allegedly ran from April 2021 to February 2024, and brought in more than $2 million.
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Facing 14 federal charges
Lloyd has been charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of moving money that investigators said came from his alleged scam. If found guilty, Lloyd could face as many as 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud charge, along with an additional 10 years for the money laundering offense.
Romance, false claims and fake contracts
Investigators alleged the 39-year-old used dating apps including Tinder, Hinge and Bumble to form romantic relationships with victims. Lloyd claimed to be a successful financial manager with experience in closing real estate deals. According to the indictment, he also falsely claimed to be the vice president of Planet Holdings 13 and worked for Landmark Associates.
The press release said, “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.”
According to the indictment, Lloyd told victims he could help them invest and that they would maintain full control over their money. He had them sign contracts and accepted payments through wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App and cash.
Instead of investing the money, Lloyd allegedly used it for personal expenses. In one example from 2023, the FBI says he spent $40,000 at a Lexus dealership.
