Oregon Man Allegedly Posed as NFL Player to Defraud Women on Dating Apps in $1.3 Million Investment Scheme

BOISE, Idaho — A 35-year-old Oregon man allegedly posed as a wealthy professional football player and real estate investor to gain the trust of women he met through dating apps before persuading them to hand over money for fraudulent investment opportunities, according to federal authorities.

Investigators say Daejon Love represented himself as a player for the San Francisco 49ers and told women that he wanted to build wealth and establish a future with them. Rather than pursuing legitimate investments, however, federal officials allege that Love used a sophisticated collection of false financial information, fabricated account balances and other deceptive tactics to convince his victims that their money was generating substantial returns.

Authorities say Love was assisted by Taylor Chan, 18, whom he allegedly presented to victims as his financial adviser.

Together, prosecutors allege, Love and Chan received approximately $1.3 million from victims, with investigators identifying at least 26 women who were allegedly targeted. Authorities believe the actual number of victims could be higher.

The two defendants were arrested at Boise Airport in Idaho, where authorities say Love had traveled while allegedly planning to meet additional potential victims.

Love and Chan have been charged federally with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

The charges are allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Alleged Romance Scam Built Around NFL Identity

According to federal officials, Love’s alleged scheme relied heavily on deception and the trust established through online dating relationships.

Investigators say Love met women through dating applications and presented himself as a successful professional athlete. His alleged claim that he played for the San Francisco 49ers was intended to reinforce an image of wealth, credibility and financial sophistication.

Authorities allege that Love did not simply ask women for money immediately.

Instead, he allegedly developed relationships with them and discussed ideas about building financial security and a future together.

That relationship-based approach allegedly helped convince victims that the investment opportunities he presented were legitimate.

Love allegedly told women that he had experience making money through investments and wanted them to participate in opportunities that could generate significant financial returns.

The women were allegedly shown information that appeared to demonstrate that Love was already making substantial profits.

Federal investigators say much of that information was fabricated.

Taylor Chan Allegedly Presented as Financial Adviser

A central element of the alleged scheme involved Taylor Chan, who was 18 at the time of the alleged offenses.

According to investigators, Love presented Chan to some victims as his financial adviser.

Chan allegedly helped reinforce the impression that Love was a successful investor who knew how to generate large returns.

The presence of an apparent financial professional could make the investment opportunities appear more credible to women who were already developing personal relationships with Love.

Authorities allege that Love and Chan used multiple forms of fabricated financial evidence to persuade victims that their investments were growing.

These allegedly included fake bank accounts, investment balances, screenshots and other financial information.

The defendants also allegedly used FaceTime calls to display what appeared to be investment profits.

The purpose, prosecutors allege, was to create the appearance that money given to Love was being invested successfully and producing the large returns he had promised.

Fake Profits Allegedly Encouraged Victims to Invest More

Investigators say the alleged deception went beyond simply making verbal promises.

Victims were allegedly shown financial information that appeared to confirm that their money was increasing.

By displaying supposed investment balances and profits, Love allegedly gave women a reason to believe that the opportunity was real.

The apparent profits could also encourage victims to provide additional money.

Federal officials say some women went as far as taking out personal loans to provide money to Love because he promised that they would be repaid quickly.

For victims who believed they were making a legitimate investment alongside someone they trusted romantically, borrowing money could have appeared to be a temporary step toward obtaining a much larger return.

Instead, investigators allege, the promised profits did not exist.

Victims Allegedly Lost Money After Trusting Love

The alleged scheme reportedly followed a pattern.

Love would allegedly establish contact with women through dating applications and develop their confidence in him.

He would then allegedly describe his supposed financial success and introduce investment opportunities promising significant returns.

Investigators say the women were provided with fabricated evidence intended to demonstrate that the investments were profitable.

Once victims transferred money, however, federal officials allege that Love and Chan retained the funds rather than generating the promised returns.

Authorities say the situation often changed when victims either ran out of money or began questioning what was happening to their investments.

At that point, Love allegedly stopped communicating with them.

Investigators say he blocked women who could no longer provide additional money or who began asking questions about their funds.

The alleged conduct left victims without access to their money and, in some cases, with debts from personal loans they had taken out in order to participate in the supposed investments.

Authorities Identify at Least 26 Women

Federal officials say approximately $1.3 million was obtained from victims in the alleged scheme.

So far, investigators have identified 26 women who allegedly lost money.

Authorities believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

The possibility of additional victims is significant in cases involving online dating and financial fraud because people who have lost money through a relationship-based scheme may be reluctant to report what happened.

Victims can face embarrassment, financial hardship or emotional distress after discovering that someone they trusted allegedly deceived them.

Investigators are therefore continuing to examine the case and determine the full extent of the alleged scheme.

Love Allegedly Used Multiple Names

Federal authorities also allege that Love used several other names.

The use of multiple identities can make it more difficult for victims to establish the true identity of someone they meet online and can potentially allow an alleged fraudster to establish relationships with additional people.

In Love’s case, investigators say his alleged use of different names formed part of a broader pattern of deception.

His claimed identity as a professional football player allegedly provided another layer of credibility.

For women who believed they were communicating with a wealthy NFL athlete, claims about financial investments and large profits may have appeared more believable.

Authorities allege that the combination of a false identity, romantic relationships and fabricated financial information enabled Love to obtain substantial amounts of money.

Arrest at Boise Airport

The investigation ultimately led authorities to Love and Chan.

The pair were arrested at Boise Airport in Idaho.

According to the allegations, Love had traveled to Boise to meet additional potential victims.

His alleged plans to continue meeting women while the scheme was under investigation contributed to the circumstances surrounding the arrests.

The airport arrests brought the alleged operation to the attention of federal prosecutors and marked a significant development in an investigation that had identified more than two dozen women as alleged victims.

Authorities are continuing to investigate whether additional people were targeted and whether more money was obtained than the approximately $1.3 million currently identified.

Federal Wire Fraud Charges

Love and Chan face federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

Wire fraud laws can apply when electronic communications or interstate electronic systems are allegedly used to carry out a fraudulent scheme.

The allegations described by investigators involve online dating applications, electronic communications, financial information and money transfers.

The use of electronic communications is therefore central to the alleged conduct outlined by federal authorities.

The conspiracy allegation concerns the claim that Love and Chan worked together as part of a plan to defraud victims.

The wire fraud charges concern the alleged use of electronic communications and transactions in furtherance of the scheme.

The charges themselves are not proof of guilt. Prosecutors must establish the allegations against the defendants in court, and the defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence.

A Familiar Pattern in Romance-Based Financial Fraud

The allegations against Love illustrate how romance and financial fraud can become intertwined.

In a conventional investment scam, victims may be approached with promises of unusually high returns.

In an alleged romance-investment scheme, however, the financial pitch can be accompanied by a personal relationship designed to make the victim more trusting.

The alleged conduct in Love’s case followed that pattern, according to federal officials.

Investigators say he did not merely present himself as an investor. He allegedly presented himself as someone seeking to build a future with the women he met.

The promise of a shared financial future could make the investment opportunity appear to be part of a relationship rather than a conventional financial transaction.

The alleged use of fake profits then provided an apparent confirmation that the investment was working.

For victims, discovering that the financial balances were allegedly fabricated could mean losing not only their money but also their trust in a person they believed was a romantic partner.

Alleged Scheme Caused Significant Financial Losses

The approximately $1.3 million allegedly obtained from victims represents a substantial combined financial loss.

However, the individual consequences for victims can vary considerably.

Someone who transferred money from existing savings could lose funds accumulated over years.

Others may have borrowed money, meaning they could continue making loan payments even after discovering that the promised investment returns did not exist.

Investigators say some victims did take out personal loans because Love allegedly promised that the money would be returned quickly.

The combination of borrowing and losing the money can substantially increase the financial consequences of an alleged investment scam.

Authorities’ identification of 26 victims also indicates that the alleged conduct was not limited to a single relationship or isolated transaction.

Investigators Believe More Victims Could Exist

Federal officials believe additional victims may exist beyond the 26 women already identified.

That possibility means the investigation could continue to uncover additional transactions, identities and alleged encounters.

People who believe they may have been targeted are generally encouraged to contact the appropriate law-enforcement authorities rather than attempting to confront an alleged fraudster themselves.

Information about additional victims can potentially help investigators establish the full scope of an alleged scheme and determine whether other individuals were involved.

It can also assist authorities in tracing money and identifying additional evidence.

Presumption of Innocence

Although the allegations described by federal officials are serious, the criminal case remains subject to the judicial process.

Love and Chan have been charged, but a charge is an accusation rather than a finding of guilt.

Prosecutors will have to present evidence supporting the charges, while the defendants will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the court system.

Both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case will ultimately be decided through the federal judicial process.

What the Case Means for Online Dating Users

The allegations also highlight the risks associated with financial requests made by people met online.

Promises of unusually high investment returns, particularly when combined with emotional pressure or claims of extraordinary wealth, can be warning signs.

The alleged scheme attributed to Love relied on several elements working together: a claimed professional-athlete identity, romantic relationships, an apparent financial adviser and supposedly verifiable investment profits.

According to investigators, those elements were allegedly manufactured to make the opportunity appear genuine.

Financial screenshots and displayed account balances may look convincing, but they do not necessarily establish that money exists or that an investment is legitimate.

Likewise, a person claiming to be a successful athlete, investor or businessperson does not automatically establish that the financial opportunity they are offering is genuine.

A Case That Began With Online Relationships

What began, according to federal allegations, as conversations between Love and women on dating applications eventually developed into a multimillion-dollar fraud investigation.

Love allegedly used the image of a wealthy NFL player and investor to gain the confidence of women, while Chan allegedly played the role of a financial adviser.

Investigators say fabricated accounts and investment information were then used to reinforce the alleged deception.

When victims could no longer provide money or began challenging the claims, Love allegedly cut off communication.

Authorities now say at least 26 women were affected and approximately $1.3 million was obtained.

The arrests at Boise Airport have brought the allegations into federal court, but investigators believe their work may not be finished.

With the possibility of additional victims, authorities may continue examining the identities used by Love, the financial records associated with the alleged scheme and the full extent of the relationships he established online.

For the women who allegedly lost money, the case represents the consequences of placing financial trust in someone they believed was not only a successful investor but also a potential romantic partner.

For investigators, the case underscores the challenges posed by fraud schemes that combine digital communication, fabricated financial information and personal relationships.

And for Love and Chan, the federal charges now place the allegations before the courts, where the evidence will determine the outcome of the case.