Virginia Grandmother Faces $378K Claim in $2 Million Romance Scam
Federal agencies are pursuing a substantial $378,000 from a Virginia grandmother, Cynthia Concordia, who fell victim to a $2 million romance scam.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) claims Concordia is liable for losses incurred by Signature Bank as part of a notorious scam that has attracted attention, including a recent documentary on Hulu.
At 64 years old, Concordia believes she is as much a victim as anyone else caught in this deception. Over the past two years, she has been fighting against the federal government’s claims.
“I was incredibly gullible,” she shared, reflecting on her experience.
In November 2019, while struggling to manage her finances—particularly her son’s steep tuition at the Culinary Institute of America—she was contacted on LinkedIn by someone claiming to be Mason Brown Suthill, who said he worked in the blockchain sector.
“Suthill” encouraged her to invest, promising quick returns. Concordia’s thoughts were often consumed by her family’s financial future, stating, “I just wanted to make sure I had enough when I died—it’s not just about me; it’s about the kids.”
Eventually, she sent $700 to another individual using the name Brian Haugen.
Haugen, an actor from Los Angeles, is also a victim in this ongoing scam where fraudsters have stolen his photos for fake profiles, as outlined in court documents.
This scandal has been highlighted in a 2025 ABC News Studios documentary titled “Hey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance Scam.”
According to Concordia, the scammer reached out to her daily, often engaging in lengthy phone conversations. “He kept saying, ‘I care about you so much. This is for your future,'” she recalled, noting that at one point, he even cried.
They would pray together, a poignant moment she remembers clearly. As the scam progressed, he told her, “I’ve been having a hard time with you for two reasons. I love you, and my deepest desire for you is to see you succeed and be happy.”
When she suggested a video chat or an in-person meeting, he had excuses ready, saying, “Cynthia, I can’t see you having an affair with a client. It’s against company policy. I can only come after all the investments.”
Ultimately, she transferred over $47,000 of her funds to him and even agreed to a significant wire transfer to purchase Bitcoin, believing she was acting on his guidance.
It wasn’t until July 2021 that she discovered the illegality of the situation when the FBI contacted her.
“I think I’m the only one left. They couldn’t go after the fraudsters,” she expressed, highlighting her stance that she hasn’t benefitted from any illicit gains. “I just don’t know if it’s really the FDIC’s role to target naive grandmothers who were deceived, but we’ll see how this unfolds,” her attorney, James DeCristofaro, commented after filing documents aiming to dismiss the case.
The FDIC has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
