Federal agents arrested two men at Boise Airport in Idaho in an alleged romance-investment fraud that skimmed more than $1.3 million from at least 26 women.
Investigators say the defendants exploited trust, preyed on those seeking love, and made false promises of financial security in multiple communities, USA Today reported.
Here's what to know
The alleged scheme targeted women in California, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
Court records show that federal authorities arrested Daejon Love, 35, and Taylor Jamie Chan, 18, on Aug. 24.
Love is accused of wire fraud and conspiracy after he allegedly pretended to be a San Francisco 49ers player, USA Today noted.
Investigators say the operation began in February 2022 and cast Chan as a financial adviser.
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Love allegedly contacted victims on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Facebook Dating while claiming he was both a 49ers wide receiver and a real estate investor based in Switzerland.
The affidavit stated that the pitch relied on both romance and claims of investing expertise.
"Love convinced many of his victims that they were in sincere romantic relationships with him and that he was financially savvy and successful to gain their trust," it read, per USA Today. "Love advertised nonexistent investments, which Love claimed would generate massive returns, to his victims."
More background
Authorities say his online persona extended to social media, where he posted photos of himself in 49ers gear, including a team helmet.
He claimed he signed with the team because they "offered me the most money" and "they [were] in hunt of winning the Super Bowl every season," according to USA Today.
To make the story more believable, investigators said he shared images suggesting he had access to huge amounts of money.
"In at least one instance, Love falsely claimed that since he began investing with Chan, Love increased his net worth from $300,000 to $17 million in a matter of a few years," the affidavit stated, per the newspaper.
Authorities alleged the pair also helped some victims obtain personal loans when they did not have cash on hand. Investigators linked Love to several names, including Jordan Love, Jon Love, Daejon Love, and Avril Lyto Love.
Authorities said representatives from the 49ers and the NFL confirmed he had never worked for either.
What can be done?
Independently verify anyone claiming ties to a professional sports team, a major company, or a high-return investment business before sending any funds.
Slow down when someone urges secrecy, promises unusually large returns, or asks for loans, for wire transfers, or for you to take on debt. Those are common red flags in fraud schemes, especially those built on emotional manipulation.
People who believe they may be dealing with a scammer should stop communicating; retain messages and payment records; and report the activity to local law enforcement, the FBI, and the platform involved.
Friends and family can also speak up when a relationship features an investment pitch.
"Victims sent Love and his co-conspirator, Taylor Jamie Chan, money believing they would invest the money in legitimate investments on the victims' behalf," an excerpt of the affidavit revealed, per USA Today. "Some victims also loaned Love large amounts of money believing Love would easily pay the money back."
Where can I learn more?
The Boise arrests are part of a wider fraud landscape, from neighborhood scams to sprawling international operations.
They also show how online platforms can afford deceptive pitches longer reaches before people realize they've been targeted.
• Across multiple countries, authorities swept up 3,018 suspects linked to $752 million in alleged scam losses.
• In Washington, residents lost $673,000 in three days when a driveway scammer struck.
• In California, Santa Clara County said billions of scam ads on Meta pretty on vulnerable users.
These cases range from one-on-one manipulation to broad digital campaigns.
The common thread is how quickly trust can be exploited — and why checking claims early and reporting suspicious activity fast can make a difference.
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