Man Posing as NFL Player Accused of Defrauding Women of $1.3 Million

When a man on Hinge with 85,000 followers and a blue check claimed to be a San Francisco 49ers player, Dominique Dubois spotted red flags.

The accused man pretended to be an NFL player on a dating app, but she wasn't into it

A man who claimed to play for the San Francisco 49ers matched with a woman on a dating app, but Dominique DuBose had her doubts. When DuBose joined the CyberGuy Report podcast, he explained how he became suspicious of a man who was allegedly using a fake NFL identity to stalk women and promote fraudulent investments.

A man who claims to play for the San Francisco 49ers is competing with you on a dating app. His Instagram has 85,000 followers and a blue check mark. There are videos that seem to show his football lifestyle. He drives luxury cars and seems to have a lot of money. So, do you believe him?

Dominique Dubose was skeptical. When he joined me on The CyberGuy Report podcast, he explained how he became suspicious of a man who was allegedly using a fake NFL identity to stalk women and promote fraudulent investments. Federal prosecutors say Daejon Labrayae Love and an alleged accomplice took about $1.3 million from at least 26 women.

Love pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a public defender representing him did not respond to a request for comment. Judge Julie E. Russo ordered Love detained as a flight risk.

DuBose recognized the warning signs and avoided losing his money. "Basically, I got it right away," DuBose told me. What he discovered raises serious questions about how easy someone can fake an online identity and how you can spot the warning signs before it's too late.

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According to an FBI affidavit, investigators allege Daejon Love used football-related images to support claims he was a 49ers player, even though team and NFL representatives said he was never employed by either organization. (FBI via court documents)

How the fake 49ers player made his story believable

According to DuBose, Love's Instagram account looks like what you'd expect from a professional athlete. His posts showed him wearing San Francisco 49ers gear and enjoying an expensive lifestyle. There were also videos of football-related locations, including footage that appeared to be related to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

"He seemed authentic. I mean, he had 85,000 followers. He had a blue check," DuBose recalled. He even called a friend who played for the 49ers.

Surprisingly, he says that friend initially supported Love's story. However, he continued to research. "I looked at everything from the NFL roster for the Niners to IR to the practice squad," he explained.

He also looked into his college football history, looking for evidence that he had actually played at the professional level. Another detail bothered him. Almost every photo seemed to feature 49ers uniforms. To DuBose, who knew professional football players, the constant display of team merchandise seemed unusual. Federal investigators later confirmed with NFL and 49ers representatives that Love was never employed by either organization. This is what makes this case so disturbing. A persuasive social media profile can make a person seem trustworthy long before they check the facts behind it.

The red flags dating app that caught his attention

DuBose said that he met love in Henge. His profile described him as an NFL receiver, but their first interaction made him uncomfortable. "It was really quick how he wanted to get my number," she told me.

Instead of sharing his personal number, he took precautions that limited his access to information. "I gave him my work cell phone number instead of mine and he started texting."

Then came an unusual flood of attention. Love almost immediately sent several videos and audio recordings. One of the recordings played during our podcast interview included the opening: "So what's up, beautiful? I had to shoot with you." The messages also included extravagant claims about his wealth and how much he wanted to spend time with her. DuBose's attention span was strange. "And it was very fast. It was very fast," he recalled.

Some of his other claims raised more questions. Dubose said he spoke of a wealthy Swiss family with ownership interests in Gucci stores. He was trying to fit those stories into his professional NFL career. Instead of accepting the explanation, he continued to investigate.

Many identities behind alleged $1.3 million fraud

Love's football career was only part of the alleged operation. During our podcast conversation, I asked DuBose about his various identities. He explained that he seemed to have more than two people, with different names and professional backgrounds depending on who he contacted. According to federal investigators, Love used a variety of names, including Jon Love, Daejon Love, Avril Lyto Love and Jordan Love. His professional identity also changed depending on the person he approached. "He was a real estate investor. He was a day trader," DuBose explained.

Prosecutors say Love used the claims to convince the women he had access to lucrative investment opportunities. According to court documents, his accomplice, Taylor Jimmy Chan, posed as a financial advisor who helped manage Love's fortune. Together, they allegedly used fake bank and investment accounts that showed huge balances. They also held FaceTime calls to demonstrate fictitious investment profits. Some women even took out personal loans after love, the affidavit says, promising that they would be repaid quickly.

Dubose told me that some women seemed to get an early return on investment, which encouraged them to invest more. However, federal investigators say none of the victims they interviewed received an actual return after sending the money. When the women ran out of money or started asking too many questions, prosecutors allege Love stopped calling.

More women are coming forward about the fake NFL player

The federal investigation has intensified since the arrests. On September 18, the FBI reported that 35 more women claimed they had been defrauded. Investigators were still working to investigate the allegations. If confirmed, the number of identified victims will increase from 26 to 61. For DuBose, the emotional trauma described by women who say they've fallen in love has been painful. She told me that some women described relationships that lasted for years. Others said they were deeply involved with someone whose identity they did not fully understand. "There are people who have dated him for 11, 12, 13 years and counting," she said.

These longer timelines mirror what the women told DuBose. They are beyond the February 2022 start date of the alleged financial scheme documented by federal investigators. "It breaks my heart," she told me during our interview. She was particularly troubled by the emotional vulnerability that someone can exploit when a person believes it's a real relationship. "And using that to your advantage is just sick."

DuBose also told me he would like to confront Love about his alleged actions. After hearing so many stories, he still wants an answer. "I want to know why." The FBI encourages potential victims to come forward, even if they are embarrassed by what happened. Investigators say reports from other people may help them understand the full scope of the alleged scheme.

Can dating apps prevent fake identities?

One of the biggest questions raised by this case concerns the platforms from which these relationships begin. A blue tick and a lot of online followers can make an account look trustworthy. However, verification features vary by platform, and verifying an account holder's identity does not prove that their claimed profession or wealth is real. DuBose expressed dismay at how someone could build a fake life on dating apps. “As far as dating apps go, you can be whoever you want to be on them. And this is the scary part."

Luther Davis allegedly disguised himself as NFL players in a multi-million dollar loan fraud scheme.

How to protect yourself from fake dating profiles

You can still meet people online while taking precautions against scams. These steps can help you spot suspicious behavior before a relationship becomes financially risky.

1) Independently verify the claimed occupation of the person

If someone says they play a professional sport or have a position credential, check the official records of the organization. Don't just rely on social media search results. For example, NFL teams publish rosters that you can check against other people's claims.

2) Be cautious when someone rushes for intimacy

Paying too much attention early in the conversation may be an attempt to build trust before making a financial request. If someone wants to immediately drop the dating app or start discussing a serious relationship before you've even had a chance to get to know each other, pay attention.

3) Keep your personal phone number private at first

Connect through the dating app until you feel comfortable. A separate phone number can help limit exposure, although it does not eliminate all risks. Avoid sharing your home address or work details with someone you recently met online.