Christopher Earl Lloyd, a 39-year-old man from Orange County, California, was arrested on a 14-count federal indictment for allegedly defrauding victims via dating apps, such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. From April 2021 to February 2024, Lloyd is accused of pretending to be an investor and misrepresenting his financial status and career to convince victims to invest their money with him. The charges, filed by the Justice Department in the Central District of California, claim that Lloyd fabricated stories about his success in real estate and finance, claiming to be a vice president of a company and an experienced finance manager—none of which were true.
Lloyd assured victims of “regular returns” on their investments, falsely claiming their money was insured and could be withdrawn at any time. He created fake contracts specifying the investments and fabricated returns schedules to further legitimize his scheme. Victims reportedly used various methods—including wire transfers, Zelle, Cash App, and cash—to send him amounts ranging from $15,500 to $110,000, totaling over $2 million. Instead of investing their funds, Lloyd allegedly used the money for personal expenses, including a $40,000 check for a Lexus.
The indictment includes 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving fraud proceeds. Lloyd’s initial court appearance was in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, and he remains in federal custody. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and up to 10 years for the monetary transaction count. The FBI continues to investigate the matter.
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