Man posing as 49ers player arrested in $1.3 million dating app fraud scheme

Daejon Love and Taylor Chan were arrested for allegedly defrauding 26 women of more than $1.3 million through a scheme that ran from February 2022 until their arrest. Love posed as an active San Francisco 49ers wide receiver on dating apps and social media, using fake financial documents and stolen posts to appear wealthy. Both face wire fraud and conspiracy charges, with no connection to the NFL or the 49ers confirmed.

The scheme relied on layered deception, with Chan allegedly serving as the purported financial advisor behind a secret investment algorithm. Chan was only 14 when the fraud began in February 2022, making the conspiracy's four-year duration notable. Love reportedly used specialized tools including fake bank account software, prop money for visual effect, and purchased social media engagement to construct his fabricated wealthy persona.

Investigators documented Love's purchases of custom football helmets and his use of stolen content from real NFL players. His aliases extended to claiming kinship with Packers quarterback Jordan Love, though no relationship exists. The affidavit noted that search engines and AI tools sometimes reinforced his false identity, complicating victims' efforts to verify his claims. Authorities confirmed neither the NFL nor the 49ers had any connection to the defendants.