A Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker report filed on October 27, 2026, names a business called “Empire Box Office Mojo” and describes a $1,660 loss. The complainant says the trouble started with a friendly contact on Telegram and ended with repeated demands for payment on a website. BBB classifies the report as a romance scam, but it contains features common to an online investment scam. This article treats the report as an allegation, not a proven fact.
What Happened in This Investment Scam Report?
The complainant, who reported being located in Reading, Pennsylvania, says they met a woman on Telegram who used the names “Candy” and “Kim.” According to the report, she quickly expressed romantic interest and said she wanted a long-term relationship.
She then described a part-time job that she said brought in good extra income. She directed the complainant to a website and coached them through using it. The complainant says they later lost money to the platform.
They also paid toward the woman’s plane ticket for a planned visit. The visit did not happen because she reportedly became ill with the flu. The complainant was still expected to pay $930 to reach a level called “VIP2.” The total reported loss was $1,660.
How Did the Reported Investment Scheme Work?
The report does not explain exactly how the platform operated, so the details below are limited to what the complainant stated.
- Contact: A stranger on a messaging app built a personal relationship.
- Introduction: The same person presented the website as a side income opportunity and guided the complainant through it.
- Escalating payments: The complainant paid toward travel costs and was then asked for a further $930 for a “VIP2” tier.
- Failed meeting: The promised in-person visit never took place.
Combining personal trust with a money-making platform is a pattern that fraud researchers and regulators often describe as a hybrid of romance and investment fraud. Whether that applies here has not been confirmed by any regulator.
What Company or Platform Was Mentioned?
The report lists the business name as Empire Box Office Mojo and the website as boxofficemojos.top. The scammer’s email and location are recorded as unknown.
The name resembles that of a well-known film box-office data website. The report does not say whether there is any connection between that site and the one the complainant used. Readers should not assume one exists.
BBB’s own notice states that the content is based on victim accounts and that scammers often borrow legitimate business names. No regulator or court finding about Empire Box Office Mojo appears in the report, and this article does not claim one.
What Are the Warning Signs of Similar Investment Scams?
Several investment scam warning signs can be reasonably identified from this report:
- A romantic approach by a stranger. Unsolicited affection on a messaging app, followed quickly by talk of marriage or commitment, is a recognized red flag.
- Money-making offers from a new partner. A personal contact who promotes a side job or investment site has a conflict of interest and may not be who they claim to be.
- Coaching through a third-party site. Being walked step by step through an unfamiliar platform suggests the contact has a stake in your participation.
- Tiered upgrades. Requests to pay more to unlock a “VIP” level are a common feature of a fake investment platform.
- Travel costs and cancelled visits. Asking for money toward a flight that never materializes is a typical romance fraud pattern.
- Unusual domain extensions. A site address ending in “.top” is not proof of wrongdoing, but it deserves extra scrutiny before any payment.
How Can Investors Protect Themselves?
- Verify registration. Search for any firm or adviser on the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site or FINRA BrokerCheck.
- Check the domain. Look up when a website was registered, and be wary of new sites that imitate established brands. Domain ownership investigation can help trace who controls a suspicious site.
- Run due diligence first. Background checks on a person or platform before sending money are far cheaper than dealing with a loss afterward.
- Never pay to unlock earnings. Legitimate investments do not require escalating fees to access your own funds.
- Do not send money to someone you have never met, whatever the reason.
- Keep records. Save chats, receipts, wallet addresses and screenshots.
What Legal and Investigative Options Do Victims Have?
Speed matters. Stop all payments, avoid paying any “release” fee, and preserve every message and transaction record. Contact your bank or payment provider right away, because quick reporting can sometimes improve the chance of stopping a transfer.
The complaint does not say how the complainant paid. If a victim paid in cryptocurrency, blockchain transactions are public and can sometimes be traced. Specialist firms, including FintechLegals through its crypto asset tracing and fraud investigation services, produce reports that attorneys, law enforcement or financial institutions can use. Tracing is not recovery, and no legitimate provider can guarantee that funds will be returned. Be cautious of anyone who promises it, including “recovery” services that contact you first.
Where Can Victims Report Investment Fraud?
If you want to report an investment scam, these are the main official options in the United States:
- Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): ic3.gov, especially for online or cryptocurrency-related losses
- SEC: the Office of the Whistleblower or the Tips, Complaints and Referrals portal
- FINRA: for concerns involving brokers or brokerage firms
- BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker, which helps warn others
- Your bank or payment provider: contact them immediately, as fast reporting can sometimes improve the chance of stopping a transfer
Victims outside the U.S. should contact their national financial regulator or consumer protection agency.
Conclusion
This BBB report is one person’s account, not a regulatory finding. Even so, the sequence it describes (a new online relationship, a recommended website, rising payment demands and a cancelled visit) is a pattern worth knowing. Before sending money to anyone, verify who they are, check registrations with official databases, and treat pressure to pay more as a reason to stop.
Source: Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker, Scam ID 1461783: https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/lookupscam/999669
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