Woman Says She Spent $11K on Man Accused of Posing as 49ers Player in $1.3M Scam
A California woman is speaking out after she says she lost thousands to a man who allegedly posed as a San Francisco 49ers player while running a multistate romance scam. Federal investigators say the suspect, 35-year-old Daejon Love, defrauded 26 women of more than $1.3 million — and at least one of those women thought she was his girlfriend.
Laurenn Llizz, a TikTok creator, says she dated Love for several months and traveled with him across four states before his arrest. Speaking to her followers, she said she spent roughly $11,000 on him during their relationship, believing he was an NFL player dealing with career ups and downs. About two weeks in, she asked about his 49ers gear. Love brushed it off, Llizz recalled, saying he'd played in the previous offseason. She didn't press further.
“I never saw how the story played out on the field. I just saw how he wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on cars, vacations, and gifts,” Llizz said, noting he once gave her a Corvette. “He played a great game.”
The relationship unraveled the day Love was arrested. Llizz says they were scheduled to meet up with 18-year-old Taylor Chan, who authorities allege acted as Love's financial adviser. She left their Airbnb to run an errand, expecting to return and meet Love there. Instead, she never heard from him again — because the FBI had taken him into custody.
According to court records cited by ESPN, Love and Chan used fake investment accounts and dating apps to target women in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Victims said they were promised returns, but never received any payout or account statements. CBS News Bay Area reported that some women handed over money based on the fabricated NFL lifestyle and investment story.
Love is accused of using football credentials he never had. The 49ers have no record of him on the team, and NFL records show he was never on a roster. Prosecutors say Chan helped maintain the illusion that Love's wealth came from legitimate investments, and the pair now face federal charges in connection with the alleged scheme.
Romance scams of this kind have become increasingly common, often using fake identities and fabricated financial opportunities to exploit dating app users. Authorities say victims may be reluctant to come forward because of embarrassment, and the FBI is asking anyone with information about Love or Chan to contact the agency. Investigators believe there may be additional victims who have not yet reported their losses.