Man Accused of Posing as 49ers Player in $1.3M Romance Scam
A man accused of posing as a San Francisco 49ers player to defraud women out of roughly $1.3 million has surfaced in a resurfaced video appearing to show him pretending to sign an NFL contract.
The Scheme
Daejon Labrayae Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud in a criminal complaint filed in Portland, Oregon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon. Prosecutors allege the scheme began in February 2022 and targeted women across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California.
According to court documents, Love met most of the women through dating apps including Hinge, Bumble, and Tinder, where he allegedly created fake profiles posing as an NFL player or, at other times, a wealthy Swiss real estate developer. Investigators say Love used several aliases over the course of the scheme, including Jon Love and Avril Lyto Lo. Prosecutors described the operation as an elaborate, years-long performance — one built on fabricated wealth, staged social media posts, and enough 49ers-branded merchandise to outfit a small team store.
Once Love allegedly built romantic relationships with victims, prosecutors say Chan would pose as his financial adviser to help legitimize fabricated investment opportunities. Authorities allege the pair used staged FaceTime calls, fake investment account screenshots, and fabricated balances — including one screenshot allegedly showing an app claiming Love had more than $5 million in cash and $15 million in investments — to convince women he had significant wealth. Court documents say Chan would send messages posing as an investment adviser recommending new opportunities, which Love would then forward to victims to further encourage them to send money.
Investigators say at least 26 women lost money in the scheme, and the FBI believes there may be additional victims who haven't yet come forward. Prosecutors say Love told many of the women he wanted to build a future and shared wealth with them, presenting the relationships as sincere while simultaneously advertising investment opportunities that did not exist.
The Video
A video obtained by OutKick and resurfacing amid the case appears to show Love pretending to sign what he represented as an NFL contract. When asked in the video which team he was joining, Love reportedly responded, "Niners." Representatives for the NFL and the 49ers told investigators Love had never been employed by either the league or the team, according to an FBI affidavit.
The video adds a visual dimension to a scheme prosecutors say relied heavily on fabricated imagery and social media theater. Screenshots shared by the U.S. Attorney's Office reportedly show Love wearing 49ers gear and posing near expensive cars, part of what investigators describe as a persona built and maintained over more than four years.
The Arrest
Love and Chan were arrested by the FBI and other law enforcement on August 24 at the Boise Airport in Idaho, according to authorities. Investigators say Chan had flown from California to meet Love in Boise, where Love was allegedly there to meet new victims. The FBI said its investigation showed that between mid-July and late August, Love had traveled through New Mexico, California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho — a travel pattern investigators say was consistent with seeking out additional victims across multiple states.
Arrest warrants and the criminal complaint against Love and Chan were issued on August 17, according to the District of Oregon. The FBI has said it is continuing to investigate the scope of the alleged scheme and believes the number of victims may grow as the case proceeds.
What's Next
Both Love and Chan face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The FBI is asking anyone with additional information about the case, or anyone who believes they may have been targeted by Love or Chan, to come forward. Tips can be submitted directly to the FBI or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The case remains active, and additional charges are possible as investigators continue reviewing financial records and interviewing potential victims across the four states involved.
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