At least 35 additional women have come forward with fraud allegations against Daejon Love, the man accused last month of masquerading as a San Francisco 49ers player and wealthy investor, the FBI announced on Friday. Federal authorities had previously said Love conned more than two dozen women, many of whom he met on dating apps, out of $1.3m.
Love, 35, and alleged accomplice Taylor Chan, 18, who posed as his financial adviser, were arrested in August and have been charged with wire fraud.
A public defender for Love and Chan’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Love allegedly used a combination of AI-assisted fake identities, fabricated investment accounts and staged video calls with Chan to gain the confidence of women in California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, according to federal authorities. To some women, he claimed to be a former NFL player, to others he claimed he said he was on reserve or injured.
Love convinced several women who believed they were dating him that if they sent him money for investments, it would yield high returns.
The plot allegedly began around February 2022 up through the time of the pair’s arrest in August, according to prosecutors. Federal authorities have not publicly revealed how Love and Chan met.
In court documents, prosecutors described Love as nomadic, saying little is known about his family ties and that he has no known legitimate source of employment.
Since his arrest, texts and videos where Love flaunted a seemingly lavish lifestyle and 49ers paraphernalia have gone viral on social media, much to the amusement of some online users.
At a Friday news conference, Portland FBI special agent Douglas Olson criticized any jokes levied at the women ensnared by Love’s scheme.
“Victim blaming is unjust and it’s harmful and it overlooks the calculated, highly manipulative lengths these individuals went to deceive and exploit others,” Olson said.
“Victims were encouraged to take out personal loans and make life altering financial decisions based on the belief they were building a future with someone they cared about. Once the money was taken, the victims were cut off, left without answers, without funds, and often without closure. Many lost not only their savings, but their sense of security and confidence,” he said.
Olson urged any other potential victims to contact law enforcement.
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