SoCal man used courting apps to swindle greater than $2 million, feds say

A Whittier man was arrested Thursday for allegedly utilizing courting apps reminiscent of Tinder, Hinge and Bumble to con individuals out of greater than $2 million, in accordance with authorities.

Christopher Earl Lloyd, 39, was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud and one depend of participating in a financial transaction in property derived from fraud, in accordance with the U.S. legal professional’s workplace for the Central District of California. If convicted, he faces a most potential sentence of 20 years in federal jail for every wire fraud depend and as much as 10 years for the financial transaction depend.

Between April 2021 and February 2024, authorities say Lloyd used courting apps and web sites to search out and make contact with alleged victims, mendacity about his monetary success and data in investing. Prosecutors additionally allege Lloyd lied about being a monetary supervisor, the vice chairman of an organization known as Planet 13 Holdings and that he labored for an funding firm known as Landmark Associates.

Lloyd allegedly satisfied individuals to take a position by telling them he knew of funding alternatives that might assist them, in accordance with a press release from prosecutors. He additionally allegedly informed them they’d get common returns and will withdraw their investments at any time.

Lloyd allegedly signed contracts; arrange a faux schedule of funding returns; and picked up cash within the type of money, wire transfers and through the use of CashApp and Zelle, authorities stated.

In Could 2023, Lloyd allegedly withdrew $40,000 that somebody had despatched him to jot down a test at a Lexus dealership in Mission Viejo. Lloyd’s alleged scheme value his victims greater than $2 million in losses, officers stated.