A woman who says she was scammed by Daejon Love told ESPN she reported the alleged San Francisco 49ers impersonator to the team in December 2025 — eight months before federal agents arrested him.
Gwen Herndon said she submitted a “complaint/concern” form through the 49ers website on Dec. 20, 2025. In the message reviewed by ESPN, she wrote that “there is a federal investigation surrounding a man pretending to be a 49ers player,” named Love, said he stole money from women and added that “he is severely damaging the reputation of your team.”
“I wanted you to be aware of the situation and hopefully proactive in denouncing his involvement on your team,” Herndon wrote.
A Levi’s Stadium guest services account replied Dec. 27, 2025.
“We take reports of individuals misrepresenting themselves as members of the San Francisco 49ers very seriously,” the response said. “For safety and legal reasons, the team cannot comment on ongoing investigations or specific individuals. However, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention and encouraging proactive measures to protect the integrity of the organization.
“If you have information that could assist law enforcement or legal authorities, we encourage you to contact the appropriate agencies directly. Our internal team will also monitor any instances of impersonation and take action as appropriate to protect fans and the team’s reputation.”
Herndon said she had no further contact with the club after that reply. A team source told ESPN last week the 49ers had not received any reports about Love before the FBI contacted the organization in August. On Tuesday, a 49ers spokesperson declined to confirm the email’s existence or comment further, citing the ongoing FBI investigation.
Love, 35, and alleged accomplice Taylor Chan, 18, were arrested Aug. 24 at Boise Airport in Idaho and charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal authorities said the pair defrauded more than two dozen women out of about $1.3 million from February 2022 until their arrests. Last week, Portland FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson said investigators had identified 35 more potential victims, bringing the pool to 61. The bureau has not updated the dollar figure.
Prosecutors allege Love met most of the women on dating apps, posed as a wealthy 49ers wide receiver or Swiss real estate investor, and used Chan as a fake financial adviser on three-way calls and fabricated investment documents. Love was wearing 49ers apparel when arrested; investigators later said he was in Boise as part of the scheme and was actively targeting three more women in Idaho. The NFL and 49ers told investigators Love has never been employed by the team or the league. Olson said the 49ers were “completely cooperative.”
Herndon, 24, a real estate agent from the Eugene, Oregon, area, said she contacted the team because she believed more women would be targeted unless the 49ers made a visible public statement.
“It was apparent to me that there were so many victims and there were going to continue to be victims unless a public statement was made and was very visible,” she told ESPN. “I knew that based on how fast he was moving.”
She said she reported Love to the FBI and Eugene police, created a Facebook group called “Victims of Jon Love,” and published a newspaper ad for four weeks in April 2025 to serve him with a small-claims lawsuit. In March 2025 she sued Love in Oregon small-claims court, alleging she gave him $10,000 for a property investment. She said he blocked her after she asked for her money back.
“Anyone I could try and get to listen to me,” Herndon said. “There is not one avenue I did not take.”
She said she did not follow up with the 49ers after the guest-services reply.
“I trusted the Niners and believed them in saying there wasn’t much that they could do,” she said. “It was enough for me to know that they knew. In their own right, I also think that they are a victim. It’s unfortunate that it was possible that it wasn’t escalated and seen the way I hoped it was.”
The Portland FBI’s investigation began Sept. 30, 2024, according to the criminal complaint. A bureau spokesperson said white-collar cases can take years to build and that allegations must be proven in court beyond a reasonable doubt. Love and Chan have been charged; they have not been convicted. If convicted on all counts, Love could face up to 40 years in prison.
