A new NFL scam story is making the rounds, but this one has very little to do with fake football tickets or counterfeit jerseys. Instead, federal prosecutors say a man created an elaborate fake identity as a San Francisco 49ers player, used dating apps to meet women, built romantic relationships with them, and then allegedly convinced them to hand over money for investments that did not actually exist. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, at least 26 women were identified as victims and about $1.3 million was received through the alleged scheme. Investigators believe there could be additional victims.
The man at the center of the case is 35-year-old Daejon Labrayae Love, who was arrested on August 24, 2026, along with 18-year-old Taylor Jamie Chan. Both have been charged federally with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Love allegedly presented himself online as a San Francisco 49ers wide receiver or a wealthy real-estate investor, while Chan allegedly posed as his financial adviser. The arrests were made at Boise Airport, where investigators say Love had traveled to meet potential new victims.
That detail alone makes this one of the more unusual NFL scams to surface recently. The NFL connection was allegedly not just something thrown into a random message to make a victim curious. According to investigators, the fake football career was part of a carefully constructed persona designed to make Love appear wealthy, successful and trustworthy.
How the Fake NFL Player Scam Allegedly Worked
According to federal prosecutors, the alleged scheme began in February 2022 and continued until the arrests in August 2026. Love reportedly met many of the women through dating apps and social media, where he presented himself as someone with a successful professional football career and considerable wealth.
The online persona was apparently built around the lifestyle that people might associate with a successful NFL player. Investigators say Love used photographs, videos, expensive vehicles and other displays of wealth to support the story. A social-media profile cited by authorities reportedly showed him wearing 49ers gear and around expensive cars, while another image allegedly showed a financial account displaying millions of dollars.
The FBI says Love also used several names, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love. The use of multiple identities allegedly helped him maintain the different personas he presented to people online.
For the women who believed they were talking to a professional athlete or wealthy investor, the story may have appeared believable because there were plenty of visual details supporting it. That is one of the reasons these scams can be so difficult to spot. A scammer does not necessarily need to invent one convincing photograph and hope someone believes it. With social media, dating apps, videos, luxury purchases and fake financial information, an entire fictional life can be built around a person.
The Romance Was Allegedly Part of the Investment Scam
This is where the story becomes even more disturbing.
According to the allegations, Love did not simply approach women online and immediately ask them for money. Investigators say he developed romantic relationships with many of the victims and convinced them that the relationship was genuine. Once trust had been established, the conversation allegedly moved toward investing.
The pitch was reportedly that Love had knowledge and experience that could help the women make substantial returns. Chan allegedly helped reinforce that story by presenting himself as Love’s financial adviser. Prosecutors say the two men used messages and three-way FaceTime calls to make the investment opportunity appear legitimate. During those calls, victims were allegedly shown falsified investment gains.
This is an important part of the case because it shows how an NFL scam can actually be a romance-investment scam underneath the surface. The football identity was allegedly used to establish status and credibility, while the romantic relationship created the emotional trust needed to make the financial request seem believable.
Some victims reportedly did not even have enough money available to invest. According to investigators, Love allegedly encouraged some women to take out personal loans, assuring them that they would be repaid quickly.
The Fake Investment Accounts Made the Story Look Real
One of the cleverer elements of the alleged scheme was the use of fake financial information.
Federal investigators say victims were shown fabricated investment gains and account information designed to make it appear that their money was growing. That can be extremely persuasive because seeing a balance increase on a screen can feel like proof that an investment is working.
But an account balance displayed inside an app or website does not necessarily mean the money exists.
According to investigators, victims eventually discovered that they could not obtain legitimate investment account information or recover their money. Prosecutors say the women who were interviewed by authorities did not receive investment proceeds or returns of their principal. When some victims became suspicious or had no more money to invest, Love allegedly stopped communicating with them.
That is one of the biggest lessons from this case. A screenshot showing millions of dollars, a trading dashboard showing impressive returns, or a person demonstrating an investment account during a video call is not enough to establish that an investment is genuine.
Was He Really an NFL Player?
No. According to federal investigators, Love was not a San Francisco 49ers player.
Authorities allege that he falsely portrayed himself as a 49ers player and used the team’s branding, football imagery and a fabricated professional background to support that identity. The Los Angeles Times reported that his social-media content included an “NFL Journey” story in which he discussed supposedly joining the 49ers and explained his absence from the field by claiming he was injured.
An even stranger detail surfaced this week when OutKick reported obtaining a video from 2024 in which Love appeared to sign what he represented as an NFL contract. In the video, he reportedly identified the 49ers as the team he was signing with. Investigators say representatives of the NFL and the 49ers confirmed that Love had never been employed by either organization.
That helps explain why the story has attracted so much attention online. The alleged scam was not based on a simple fake profile with a football player’s name. Investigators say Love went much further in creating the appearance of a professional football career.
Why Would Someone Believe a Fake NFL Profile?
It is easy to look at a story like this from the outside and wonder how anybody could believe it, especially when the person was supposedly an NFL player. But that misses how romance scams usually work.
People do not necessarily send money because they believe a stranger’s first message. They send money after the stranger has spent weeks or months establishing familiarity and trust. The scammer learns about the person’s life, communicates frequently, shares personal stories and creates the feeling that a genuine relationship is developing.
In this alleged case, the NFL identity may have made that process easier because professional athletes are associated with money, connections and investment opportunities. The luxury cars and expensive lifestyle then reinforced the story.
Once a person believes she is dealing with a successful athlete who genuinely cares about her, an investment opportunity can feel very different from a cold request for money from a stranger.
That is precisely why romance scams remain so effective. The scammer is not simply selling an investment. They are selling a relationship, a future and the belief that the victim is being given access to an opportunity because of the special connection between them.
The $1.3 Million Figure Is Based on the Federal Investigation
The amount being reported in connection with this case is approximately $1.3 million.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, financial records show that Love and Chan received about $1.3 million from victim investors. At least 26 victims have been identified across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California, and the FBI believes there may be many more.
That does not mean every victim necessarily lost the same amount. Some women reportedly invested their own savings, while others were allegedly encouraged to borrow money. The total represents money investigators say was received from the victims identified so far.
The fact that authorities believe there may be additional victims is also significant. Love allegedly used several names and interacted with women across multiple states, making it possible that people who have not yet contacted investigators could still come forward.
This Wasn’t an NFL Scam Run by the 49ers
There is an important distinction to make here because headlines can sometimes make these stories confusing.
The San Francisco 49ers and the NFL are not accused of running this scheme. The allegation is that an individual impersonated a 49ers player and used the team’s identity to make himself appear legitimate.
That means searches for terms such as “49ers scam,” “NFL player scam” or “NFL romance scam” should not be interpreted as evidence that the actual football organization was involved. The alleged fraud was carried out through a false identity.
This distinction matters because scammers frequently borrow the names of recognizable companies, sports teams, celebrities and public figures. Seeing a legitimate logo or team name does not mean the person communicating with you is actually connected to that organization.
How to Spot a Fake NFL Player or Celebrity Online
The biggest takeaway from this case is not to assume that someone is genuine simply because their social-media profile looks convincing.
A person claiming to be an NFL player should be independently verifiable. If someone says they play for a particular team, check the team’s official roster rather than relying on the person’s Instagram, TikTok or dating-app profile. Search for independent news coverage and legitimate records rather than accepting screenshots supplied by the person themselves.
The same applies to investment claims. If someone you met online tells you that they can help you make unusually high returns, especially after developing a romantic relationship with you, that should be treated very carefully. Never assume an investment is legitimate because the person sends screenshots of an account balance or introduces you to a supposed financial adviser.
Most importantly, do not take out a loan or send your savings because someone you met online promises that the money will quickly come back with a profit. That is exactly the kind of situation scammers can exploit.
What If You Think You Were Targeted?
Anyone who believes they may have interacted with Love or Chan, or who recognizes one of the names allegedly used in the scheme, should preserve the evidence rather than deleting the conversation.
Save screenshots of dating profiles, Instagram accounts, phone numbers, emails, messages, investment websites, payment records, bank transfers and anything else connected with the interaction. Do not warn the suspected scammer before preserving the evidence.
The FBI is actively seeking additional information in this case and has asked anyone with information about Love or Chan to contact the agency. The FBI’s tip system is available through its official website, and the DOJ says investigators believe there may be additional victims.
My Take on the Trending NFL Scam
What makes this case stand out is how many different forms of deception allegedly came together. It was not just a fake NFL profile, and it was not just a romance scam or fake investment scheme. According to federal prosecutors, the alleged operation combined all three.
The fake football career created status. The luxury lifestyle made the wealth appear believable. The dating apps provided access to potential victims. The romantic relationships created trust, while the supposed financial adviser and fake investment accounts made the financial pitch look legitimate.
That combination is a good reminder that modern scams do not always look like scams. They can look like a successful person living an exciting life, messaging you every day, talking about a future together and eventually offering you what appears to be a special investment opportunity.
And that is probably the most important thing to take away from the NFL scam trending in August 2026. The NFL connection was allegedly just the costume. Behind it was a much more familiar type of fraud: building trust, creating an emotional connection and then using that trust to get access to someone’s money.
At this point, Daejon Labrayae Love and Taylor Jamie Chan have been charged, not convicted, and the allegations will be tested in federal court. The DOJ explicitly states that a criminal complaint is only an accusation and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
But the case is already a useful warning for anyone using dating apps or social media. A football jersey, luxury car, impressive Instagram page or supposed investment account can all be manufactured. Before sending money to someone you met online, especially someone who claims to be a professional athlete or wealthy investor, verify the person independently and never allow a romantic relationship to become the reason you ignore basic financial caution.