FBI says 35 potential new victims step forward in ‘fake 49er’ case
By Esteban Reynoso
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CALIFORNIA (KCRA) — Daejon Love, a California native, has been arrested on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly scamming over a dozen women out of more than $1 million by pretending to be a San Francisco 49er.
“The number of victims can change, the financial loss can change, and obviously the damage of the overall scheme, we get a better idea as we work the case,” Douglas Olson of FBI’s Portland office said.
The FBI says investigators have identified 35 additional potential victims since Love’s arrest, all of them women, and believe there could be even more victims.
“Fraud can happen to anyone,” Olson said. “The victims in this case were targeted because they were trusting, responsible people. They believed they were building genuine relationships and legitimate financial futures.”
Love allegedly worked with a co-conspirator, 18-year-old Taylor Chan, using fake social media accounts, fabricated football workout videos, and falsified bank statements showing millions of dollars to gain the trust of their victims.
“[This case] has drawn a ton of attention from the public,” Olson said. “Unfortunately, some of that attention has included jokes, mockery, commentary that are unfairly targets and blames the victims in this case.”
“Victim blaming is unjust and harmful, and overlooks the calculated, highly manipulated lengths these individuals went to, to exploit and manipulate others,” Olson added.
Public records show Love has addresses in Stockton, Walnut Creek, and Southern California.
“He grew up in that Northern-Central region of California, I don’t know if it was specifically Stockton,” Olson said.
Investigators also revealed that Love used artificial intelligence to manipulate Google search results, making it harder for potential victims to uncover the truth.
“I think you can exercise some healthy skepticism, but also verify with other real people and individuals, not just on the internet,” Olson said.
Love and Chan remain in federal custody in Idaho. Both face one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
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