California Man Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Dating App Matches Out of $2 Million

Summary:

• A Whittier man indicted for romance scam on dating apps, allegedly conning victims out of over $2 million. Arrested in Santa Ana.

• Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, faces 13 counts of wire fraud and 1 count of engaging in a monetary transaction from criminal activity.

• Lloyd used Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble to deceive victims into investing in fake opportunities, totaling over $2 million in alleged losses.

A Whittier man has been federally indicted for allegedly orchestrating a romance scam through popular dating platforms, conning victims out of more than $2 million, authorities announced Thursday.

Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, was arrested on July 25 in Santa Ana after a federal grand jury returned a 14-count indictment earlier this month. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Lloyd is charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from criminal activity.

A man was arrested for scamming his dates out of $2 million on Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble. pic.twitter.com/GiC5WUVlc8

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 1, 2025

Prosecutors allege Lloyd used apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble between April 2021 and February 2024 to build romantic relationships under false pretenses. He reportedly portrayed himself as a successful financial expert, claiming to be a vice president at Planet 13 Holdings and an employee of Landmark Associates. Investigators say those claims were false.

Once trust was established, Lloyd allegedly persuaded victims to invest in fake opportunities. He reportedly used falsified contracts and promised high returns with the option to withdraw at any time. However, the Department of Justice claims Lloyd used the funds for personal expenses, including a $40,000 check to a Lexus dealership in Mission Viejo.

Victims sent money through CashApp, Zelle, wire transfers, and cash. The total alleged losses exceeded $2 million.

Lloyd made his initial court appearance on July 25. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to 10 years for the monetary transaction count, according to the DOJ. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Fu, and the FBI is continuing its investigation.

The case highlights the growing prevalence of financial fraud via dating platforms, a trend noted by law enforcement agencies nationwide. No further statements have been made by Lloyd’s attorney.

For more information, see the DOJ press release here.