Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
'Attractive' Scam Artist Used Online Dating Sites To Commit Fraud, Police Say
As if you needed another reason to forego the seventh level of hell known as online dating, the shady case of scammer Maria Christina Johnson should do it for you.According to a release from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, the 43-year-old woman, who was arrested on April 28 by the Southern California High Tech Task Force Identity Theft Detail, used her really, really, ridiculously good looks to ensnare men on online dating sites and home rental websites as a way to steal their identities to open lines of credit, charge expensive hotel rooms, and basically live the baller lifestyle she apparently felt so entitled to.
The release from the Sheriff's Department reads like a treatment of a really good episode of Law & Order:
Once Suspect Johnson gained access to a victim’s home, she located their personal identifying information and opened lines of credit without their permission. She would change their mailing address and assume the victim’s identity. Once she gleaned information about the victim’s personal connections, she moved on to steal the identities of their relatives and friends. After assuming an identity without permission, Suspect Johnson moved into high-end hotels and charged up thousands of dollars’ worth of goods and services. During one hotel stay, Suspect Johnson even brazenly attempted to purchase an automobile!
Investigation revealed Suspect Johnson’s elevated sense of entitlement compelled her to go to great lengths in aggressively assuming identities; no one was immune from being exploited. In one instance, detectives learned she transferred one victim’s cellphone number to her own phone in order to complete the takeover. Suspect Johnson also made appointments with real estate brokers to view expensive homes, possibly in attempt to locate her next victim, and on one occasion, stole the identity of the real estate broker.
Authorities arrested Johnson at the luxury hotel in Santa Barbara on the "1200 block of Channel Drive" where she was staying, which can be placed at the tony Four Season Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (that's not a run-on sentence, but the actual name of the hotel).The sheriff's report claims during that stay, she racked up bills in the thousands of dollars. We would love to see an itemized bill.
Support for LAist comes from
As the L.A. Times notes, this isn't "Suspect Johnson"'s first time at the ol' fraud rodeo. She was arrested in 2011 for posing as an associate of NASCAR'S Hendrick Motorsports team. She also served "at least two years" in a Washington state prison on identity theft charges before coming to California in 2008. Johnson also served time for a case in Torrance that resulted in convictions on 11 counts of identity theft, grand theft and credit card fraud. Yeesh.
Over the years, Johnson has gone by monikers such as Maria Hendricks, Gia Hendricks, Maria Christina Gia, or Maria Hainka. According to KTLA, investigators said Johnson had no legitimate source of income, and listed her occupation as "dog trainer."
Those who believe they may be one of Johnson's victims, or have other information are urged to call the Southern California High Tech Task Force Identity Theft Detail Detectives Ned Russell or Duane Decker at (818) 576-8884.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist