FBI Identifies 35 More Victims in 49ers Scheme
FBI Identifies 35 More Victims in 49ers Scheme
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Key Points
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Investigators said Love used several names—including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love—and at times claimed to be a wealthy real-estate investor from Switzerland.
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FBI Special Agent Douglas Olson described the alleged scheme as a “bespoke fraud,” saying Love changed his story depending on the woman he was targeting and tailored the deception to each victim.
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Olson warned that the case could indicate a broader threat, saying he was concerned the fraud model could be replicated by other people targeting victims through similar schemes.
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A woman identified by the San Francisco Chronicle as 38-year-old Domonique DuBose said Love contacted her through Hinge and sent photographs and videos that purported to show him as an NFL player; she became skeptical after he claimed to have played for the 49ers in 2011 and 2012.
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The alleged offenses could carry substantial penalties: Love and Chan each face one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, with each charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years, according to the New York Post.
Federal investigators have identified 35 additional women who say they were defrauded by Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Chan, 18, bringing the total number of potential victims to 61, FBI officials announced. The pair allegedly used fake identities, AI-enhanced photos, and romantic manipulation across California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho to convince women to send money—sometimes by persuading them to take out loans. Reported losses from the initially identified group exceed $1.3 million.
Love allegedly posed as a San Francisco 49ers player or wealthy Swiss real-estate investor, while Chan acted as his supposed financial adviser. San Luis Obispo reports both defendants face federal wire fraud charges carrying up to 20 years in prison each. The FBI is urging more victims to come forward and warned that the scheme's model could be replicated by others.
Fak e I de nti tie s a nd AI Im ag es De ce ive d Wo me n Ac ros s Mu lti ple St ate s
Love used multiple aliases—Jon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love—tailoring each identity to his target. KOIN reports he contacted victims through dating apps like Hinge, sending photographs and videos that purported to show him as an NFL player. One woman, identified as 38-year-old Domonique DuBose, grew skeptical after Love claimed to have played for the 49ers in 2011 and 2012.
FBI Special Agent Douglas Olson described the scheme as 'bespoke fraud,' saying Love changed his story depending on which woman he was targeting. The pair used fake investment accounts, staged video calls, and personalized narratives to build trust. Chan then posed as Love's financial adviser to collect money from victims, Modesto Bee reports.
Victims Pressured to Take Loans to Fund 'Investments'
The scheme operated from 2022 until Love and Chan's arrest on August 24. Prosecutors say the pair manipulated women into sending increasingly large amounts of money by encouraging them to take out personal loans. Fresno Bee notes that victims believed they were funding legitimate investments or supporting a romantic partner's business ventures.
The Sacramento Bee reports that reported losses from the initially identified victims group exceed $1.3 million. Investigators say the scammers exploited vulnerable women by building emotional connections before requesting financial help. Law enforcement warns this model demonstrates how romance fraud can escalate from small initial transfers to substantial sums.
FBI Warns Scheme Could Be Replicated by Other Fraudsters
Special Agent Douglas Olson expressed concern that the fraud model—combining dating apps, fake identities, and AI-enhanced images—could be adopted by other scammers. San Luis Obispo reports Olson warned the case indicates a broader threat in online dating fraud. The sophistication of deepfake technology and social media manipulation makes such schemes increasingly difficult to detect.
Both Love and Chan face one count of wire fraud and one conspiracy charge, each carrying potential sentences up to 20 years. KOIN reports the FBI is urging additional victims to come forward. Federal officials also condemned online jokes and victim-blaming, emphasizing that women were deliberately targeted through calculated manipulation.
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