Carlos Da Silva of Vaughan is seeking a $5,250 refund after Balance Promotions Inc. failed to deliver tickets for the match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This incident is part of a larger investigation by the Halton Regional Police into multiple consumer complaints.
The $100,000 hole left by Balance Promotions Inc.
Carlos Da Silva, a resident of Vaughan, is currently part of a group of approximately 30 customers who claim to have lost significant sums of money. As reported by CTV News Toronto, these individuals are collectively reporting losses exceeding $100,000 following failed transactions with Balance Promotions Inc.
Mr. Da Silva specifically paid $5,250 via e-transfer to secure four tickets. This incident highlights a growing trend of high-value consumer fraud surrounding major international sporting events, where the pressure of limited supply often drives buyers toward unverified third-party sellers. Using e-transfers for large, non-refundable purchases remains a significant risk for consumers in the secondary ticket market.
A missed match at Toronto Stadium on June 12
The disappointment for Da Silva was immediate when the promised tickets failed to materialize on the day of the game. On June 12,2026, while traveling to Toronto Stadium with his son, he received a WhatsApp message from the seller claiming there were "issues processing the tickets."
"We start panicking, like, what do you mean?" Da Silva told CTV News Toronto. Instead of attending the historic match on Canadian soil, he was forced to watch the game from a local restaurant. He noted that subsequent attempts to contact the seller resulted only in automated responses, leaving him and his client in a state of uncertainty.
Halton Police Financial Crimes Unit targets 11 complaints
Law enforcement has officially entered the fray as the scale of the issue becomes clearer.. According to the report,the Halton Regional Police have confirmed that their Financial Crimes Unit is currently investigating 11 formal complaints related to these transactions.
While Const.. Ryan Anderson stated that there are no current updates on the investigation, the police have issued a public warning. They advised consumers to avoid purchasing tickets through social media and to stick strictly to authorized sellers to avoid similar financial pitfalls.
Will Balance Promotions Inc. have assets left to recover?
The primary concern for the victims is not just the delay, but whether the money can actually be retrieved. Linda Visser, a partner at Siskinds LLP, raised a critical question regarding the viability of legal action: is there actually any money left to seize? While Balance Promotions Inc. has acknowledged the delays in an email to CTV News, the company has not explained what cuased the breakdown in their refund process.
This leaves several critical questions: is the entity facing a genuine liquidity crisis, or has the money already been dispersed? Furthermore, Visser cautioned that even if ticket refunds are eventually secured , they may not cover additional costs like travel expenses .. Whether a class action is viable will depend on if there are any remaining assets to enforce against.
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