FBI Arrests Fake 49er for $1.3 Million Scam

Daejon Love and Taylor Chan accused of scamming women over $1.3 million using fake identities and investment schemes through dating apps.

Daejon Love and alleged accomplice Taylor Chan face charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to reports from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Oregon. The duo is accused of deceiving dozens of women out of more than $1.3 million in a scheme that unfolded over four years.

Beginning in February 2022 and continuing until their recent arrest on Monday, Love, 35, and Chan, 18, targeted victims primarily via dating apps and social media. Both face serious felony charges, with one count of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud each. Investigators have identified at least 26 victims of the scheme.

In an affidavit filed last week, it was revealed that Love and Chan created fake financial documents that appeared to show they had accrued millions from nonexistent investments. Love reportedly reached out to women online, persuading them to send money to him or to Chan, whom Love claimed was his financial advisor. He allegedly boasted that Chan possessed a secret investment algorithm responsible for over $30 million in earnings.

Central to their operation was Love’s self-presentation as an active wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, which aimed to project a wealthy image. Court records display screenshots of Instagram posts where Love was seen in 49ers gear while faking training and, in one instance, crafting a faux contract signing video. Love also lifted content from actual NFL players’ accounts and shared it as his own.

According to the affidavit, some victims grew suspicious and conducted online searches to verify Love’s claims. Investigators noted that due to Love’s misleading social profiles, search engines occasionally recognized him as a genuine 49ers player. Even so, both the NFL and the 49ers have confirmed that Love has no affiliations with them. As of Friday, attorneys for Love and Chan had not provided any comments.

The affidavit further detailed that Love utilized numerous aliases to obscure his identity, sometimes claiming to be Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love or articulating that they were related. Other aliases he purportedly used include Jon Love and Avril Lyto Love. Additionally, he represented himself as a real estate investor from a wealthy family in Switzerland.

Investigators revealed that Love spent over $1,160 at Green Gridiron, a site specializing in custom football helmets, and also made purchases from Prop Money Inc., a firm selling realistic fake banknotes for film purposes. Other spending included transactions with Useviral.com and Buzzoid, services that provide followers and interaction for social media accounts. Such purchases were believed to enhance his online persona and social standing.

In many instances, Love allegedly developed romantic relationships with the targeted women, claiming he wished to invest together to build their futures. He used applications like Fake Bank Account Pro, which allows users to fabricate bank accounts. Within his private circles, he mocked these women with Chan, who was only 14 when the fraud began, complaining about maintaining these relationships.

Victims detailed harrowing experiences. One female victim, referred to as A.T., dated Love for nearly a year before realizing she was being duped, reporting a loss of more than $87,000 due to fraudulent investments and vehicle leases. Another victim, identified as G.H., recounted being threatened with violence when she hesitated to send her life savings to Love.

When some targets claimed they couldn’t afford the supposed investments, it is alleged that Love pressured them into taking out personal loans, leaving them with debts they could not service. Authorities stated that they found no proof that Love had any legitimate income source.

The arrest occurred at the Boise Airport in Idaho, where FBI agents captured Love and Chan as they were allegedly heading to meet additional targets. The FBI is reaching out to anyone who might have been affected, believing there could be many more victims of this elaborate scheme.