Rooted by Grief AR Mark, legitimate status of this organization as a non-profit cannot be verified. Internet

RipOff Report: "AR Mark" aka "Marco Romero" aka "Mark Anthony" aka "Rooted by Grief" Facebook Organization

Report Filed: January 2025

Subject: Marco Romero (Facebook: "AR Mark", aliases: Mark Anthony, Marco Anthony, Mark Ramero) Location: Chandler, Arizona Oregon St, Last Known Address: Chandler, AZ 85225, Phone: (331) 454-6394

Organization

Name: Rooted by Grief (Status of non-profit registration unknown/unverified) Type: Facebook-based support group for widows and widowers Platform: Facebook group with over 5,000 members

Complaint Summary

We have received lots of complaints about Marco Romero (known on Facebook as "AR Mark"), operating under multiple aliases including "Mark Anthony," has been running what appears to be a fraudulent operation targeting vulnerable widows and widowers through a Facebook group called "Rooted by Grief." He presents himself as the Chairman of the Board of the organization while collecting funds from members. The legitimate status of this organization as a non-profit cannot be verified.

Detailed Account from Former Administrator

The following account comes directly from a letter written to the Attorney General that we received from Brittanie Tonstad, a former administrator of the group who was also victimized in this scheme:

I became involved with Rooted by Grief approximately nine months ago as a widow myself, having lost my fiancé in May 2022. The group, which has over 5,000 members who are widows and widowers, operates primarily through Facebook and claims to offer support, state-specific chats, and organized events.

In May 2024, after a Las Vegas trip that was framed as a National Widow Day celebration (but was actually used to celebrate Mark's birthday at the group's expense), I was hired as an administrator. Mark built trust with me through shared experiences of loss and faith, creating what I believed was a genuine bond centered around helping others navigate grief.

The Scheme Unfolded:

1. Non-Profit Status Questions
   • I proposed creating an official 501(c)(3) to legitimize our handling of funds
   • Mark promised me a $45,500 annual salary ($35/hour for 25 hours weekly) once "established"
   • He continually delayed action while collecting funds
   • The legitimate status of the organization remains unverified
2. Financial Manipulation
   • I personally handed over more than $11,000 in cash to Mark
   • Had to refund $8,300 to group members for trips from my personal account
   • My promised salary was never fully compensated
   • My bank account was eventually flagged and shut down due to suspicious activity
3. Specific Schemes:
   • Moving Fund Scam: Mark had me collect donations supposedly for "struggling widows who are moving," but the money went directly to him as he worked part-time for a moving company
   • Business Registration Scheme: He persuaded me to open a business under my name, later admitting his criminal past prevented him from doing so himself
   • Miami Trip Incident: I was asked to purchase plane tickets from my personal funds, then give him cash instead of refunds when plans changed
4. Event Exploitation
   • Planned to create a competing version of an existing annual San Antonio Gala
   • Intended to use the event as both a gala and his personal wedding
   • Planned to fund his wedding through donations and ticket sales

Criminal Background Discovery

In January 2025, it was discovered that Marco Romero (known on Facebook as "AR Mark") is a lifetime registrant on Illinois's sex offender registry, convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a 14-year-old child when he was 28. According to the Glendale Police Department, he is not currently registered as a sex offender in Arizona as required by law, which constitutes a serious legal violation. This information had been concealed from the group, and his Facebook presence violates the platform's policies prohibiting registered sex offenders from maintaining accounts.

Methods of Operation

• Uses multiple aliases including "AR Mark" on Facebook to avoid detection
• Fails to register as a sex offender in Arizona as legally required
• Builds trust through shared experiences of grief
• Manipulates vulnerable individuals emotionally and financially
• Insists on cash transactions to avoid paper trails
• Uses administrators as unwitting intermediaries for financial transactions
• Retaliates against those who discover his true identity
• Operates through Facebook despite platform restrictions on sex offenders

Warning Signs

1. Requests for cash-only transactions using Venmo, Cashapp, Zelle, etc
2. Unclear or unverifiable organizational status
3. Use of multiple aliases and changing identities
4. Pressure to handle financial transactions informally
5. Resistance to formal documentation or registration
6. Use of intermediaries for financial matters

Legal Actions Taken

• Police report filed with Glendale Police Department (Report #25000579)
• Report submitted to Attorney General's office
• Documented evidence provided to authorities

Advice to Others

1. Verify the legitimate status of any organization before getting involved
2. Research the background of organization leaders
3. Be wary of cash-only requests and informal payment arrangements
4. Keep detailed records of all financial transactions
5. Report suspicious activity to authorities immediately
6. Be especially cautious in grief support groups where emotions may be vulnerable

Report Suspicious Activity To:

• Glendale Police Department
• Arizona Attorney General's Office
• FBI (for interstate fraud cases)
• Facebook's Security Team (for violation of platform policies)

This report is based on documented evidence, formal complaints filed with law enforcement agencies, and direct testimony from a former administrator of the organization.