Police warn against hot air balloon scam in Markham
By David Yin, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
York Regional Police is warning residents about a scam that pretends to sell hot air balloon rides in Markham.
The police recounted at least two incidents of hot air balloon ride scams in a news release on July 17.
On June 4, a victim paid $45 to secure a hot air balloon ride reservation for July 5 through a company called “The Candle Experience 2025.” The victim, along with several other people, arrived to a park around 14th Ave. and Donald Cousens Pkwy. on July 5, but they all realized they were scammed when they found no balloons or staff members at the park.
In another incident, several victims visited the same park for another balloon ride scheduled on July 12, only to realize that they had also been scammed.
In the release, York Regional Police provided several tips to avoid similar scams. They advised to check customer reviews across different platforms, obtain the company’s physical address and contact information, consider whether certain deals are too good to be true, or contact the company operator to confirm bookings.
“A reputable company will respond to your query promptly,” the release said, regarding booking confirmations. The release also said that hot air balloon rides “typically cost a few hundred dollars.”
People with more information about the scam can call the York Regional Police #5 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or anonymously at www.1800222tips.com.