*This content was translated by AI.
A gang that impersonated NFL star players to defraud dozens of women of large sums has been brought to trial.
Britain's "The Sun" reported on the 29th (Korean time) that Dejon Lavray Love (35) and Taylor Jamie Chan (18) were detained in a federal prison in Portland, Oregon, U.S., on charges of fraud involving $1.3 million (approximately 1.8 billion won).
According to media reports, Love had been posing as a wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers on Instagram since 2022 and operated a fake account. The now-deleted account once had about 10,000 followers. He posted photos of himself training while wearing 49ers uniforms and equipment, or signing what appeared to be fake NFL contracts. He also posed as a wealthy real estate investor by taking photos in front of luxury homes and sports cars.
The pair primarily sought victims through dating apps. As Love cultivated romantic relationships with women to win their trust, Chan appeared as a financial advisor to further bolster their confidence. The female victims firmly believed they were in an actual relationship with Love and that they were helping him grow his assets worth $10 million (approximately 13.8 billion won).
Their modus operandi was meticulous. Love used a fake bank account app to reassure victims and lure them into investments by promising high returns. In some cases, they even conducted three-way video calls with Chan present to pressure victims into sending money or taking out loans. When victims' funds ran dry or they began to suspect fraud, the pair immediately cut off all contact and disappeared.
Analysis of financial records revealed that over several years, the duo siphoned a total of $1.3 million. To date, 26 victims have been identified, but the FBI believes there are more hidden victims and is expanding its investigation.
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that it sought comments from the San Francisco 49ers organization regarding this incident but received no response.
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*This content was translated by AI.
