California man used dating apps to con women out of $2 million: DOJ

A man in southern California allegedly used dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to con people in romance scams to obtain over $2 million, authorities have said.

Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, has been charged with one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from fraud as well as 13 counts of wire fraud, according to the Department of Justice.

From approximately April 2021 to February 2024, Lloyd used the dating apps to come in contact with others, engage them in romantic relationships, and lie to them about his success and wealth, according to a federal indictment.

“Lloyd’s falsehoods included that he had closed on multiple properties, that he had been a financial manager for years, that he was the vice president of a company called Planet 13 Holdings, and that he worked for an investment company called Landmark Associates,” the DOJ said in a press release. None of the claims from Lloyd, however, were true.

Lloyd would then convince his victims to provide money as well as property to him, such that he would be able to manage their investments to their benefit, the indictment detailed.

To carry out the schemes, he would support his false statements by providing them a contract and setting a false schedule of investment returns, the Justice Department said. The victims would then transfer him money on Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, or other apps, which he allegedly used for his own personal benefit.

In total, the victims lost over $2 million, and Lloyd faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud transaction as well as 10 years in federal prison for the one count relating to monetary transactions. The FBI is investigating the matter.