Police in York Region are investigating a scam where a company named 'The Candle Experience 2025' sold phony tickets for non-existent hot air balloon rides in Markham. Numerous victims arrived at a park on July 5 and July 12 for scheduled rides, only to find no balloons or staff present. Police are advising the public on how to avoid similar scams, emphasizing the need to verify company authenticity and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
People sold tickets to non-existent hot air balloon rides in York Region: police
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Police in York Region are investigating a scam where a company named 'The Candle Experience 2025' sold phony tickets for non-existent hot air balloon rides in Markham. Numerous victims arrived at a park on July 5 and July 12 for scheduled rides, only to find no balloons or staff present. Police are advising the public on how to avoid similar scams, emphasizing the need to verify company authenticity and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
- 1 July 4 (unspecified year, implied 2025): A person responded to a social media ad for 'The Candle Experience 2025' and paid $45 online for a July 5 reservation.
- 2 July 5 (unspecified year, implied 2025): The victim and a large number of other people arrived at a park in Markham for the scheduled ride, only to discover it was a scam.
- 3 July 12 (unspecified year, implied 2025): A similar incident occurred at the same park, with several people arriving for a non-existent hot air balloon ride.
- Numerous victims lost money after purchasing fake tickets
- Police investigation is ongoing
- Public warned about similar scams and advised on prevention methods
What: People were sold phony tickets for non-existent hot air balloon rides by a company called 'The Candle Experience 2025' in Markham, York Region.
When: July 4 (victim responded to ad), July 5 (first incident), July 12 (similar incident).
Where: Markham, York Region, a park in the area of 14th Avenue and Donald Cousens Parkway.
Why: Scammers aimed to defraud individuals by selling fake tickets for a non-existent event, capitalizing on the appeal of hot air balloon rides.
How: The scammers advertised on social media, sold tickets online for $45, and then failed to appear at the scheduled location, leaving numerous victims stranded.