Tinder, Hinge and Bumble: Man charged over $2m dating scam

A California man has been charged with using three dating apps to start relationships and persuade matches to "invest" more than $2 million with him.

This concerns misuse by other users, not the service's own security, and does not count in the score.

What happened

According to federal prosecutors in California, as reported by The Guardian, a 39-year-old man used Tinder, Hinge and Bumble to befriend and romance his victims. He allegedly posed as a financial manager with investment expertise, produced false contracts and return schedules, and persuaded victims to transfer money via payment apps, wire transfers and cash. Victims were told they could withdraw their money at any time. According to the indictment, he instead used the money for himself. A federal grand jury returned an indictment with 13 counts of wire fraud and one count of a monetary transaction in property derived from fraud. He was arrested in July 2025.

What is documented

• Federal grand jury indictment, July 2025 (according to prosecutors, as reported by The Guardian).
• Prosecutors: more than $2 million in total, April 2021 to February 2024.
• Arrest announced on 24 July 2025.

What has not been established

• Guilt. He was charged, not convicted, when the case was reported.
• The number of victims, and how many met him on each app.

What this means for you

1. Do not transfer money or "investments" to someone you met on a dating app.
2. Get independent advice before making financial arrangements with a new partner.
3. Report profiles that talk about investments or money to the app.