FBI adds 35 more women to fraud case involving fake 49ers player
The FBI said 35 additional women reported being defrauded by Daejon Love and Taylor Chan, raising the total number of alleged victims to more than 60.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced Friday that 35 more women have come forward claiming they were duped by Daejon Love and Taylor Chan, bringing the known victim count in the case to over 60. Portland FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson said the agency is working to verify the new reports and believes additional victims may still be unidentified.
"We were surprised how many people were victimized in such a short period of time and then to have that many more come forward," Olson told reporters. He added that the scale of the fraud raised concerns that similar schemes could be replicated by others.
Olson urged anyone with information to contact the Portland office, emphasizing that potential witnesses should not fear embarrassment or retaliation. The investigation, launched on Sept. 30, 2024, covers alleged offenses from Feb. 2022 through Aug. 24, 2026, when Love and Chan were arrested at an airport in Boise, Idaho. Both men face charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to the criminal complaint, the duo stole more than $1.3 million from 26 identified victims across at least four states. Love, 35, allegedly used social media and dating apps to create false identities, including posing as a San Francisco 49ers player and a wealthy Swiss real-estate investor, to persuade women to send money. Chan, 18, sometimes acted as Love’s financial adviser and helped convince victims that their funds would be invested.
"The victims in this case were targeted precisely because they were trusting, responsible people who believed they were building genuine relationships and legitimate financial futures," Olson said. He described the scheme as highly customized, using fabricated investment accounts, staged video calls and AI-enhanced false identities.
Olson noted that the athlete persona was frequently employed to lend credibility to the fraud, with Love ensuring that online searches produced multiple references to the supposed football career. A source from the 49ers confirmed the team was unaware of Love and had not received any prior reports, but cooperated fully with the FBI’s inquiries.