A Massachusetts firefighter reportedly collected more than $14,000 from people expecting FIFA World Cup tickets, then produced a fabricated email claiming that a $157,000 pension withdrawal would allow him to repay them. He described himself as the middleman through whom the buyers’ money had to pass, according to the criminal complaint cited by CBS Boston. Authorities have not disclosed the precise number of buyers, how many tickets each person expected or the individual payment amounts. The Confirmation Email Used Patriots Branding and TicketmasterAfter receiving the money, Whelan allegedly sent an email that appeared to confirm the World Cup ticket purchase. The Missing Tickets Produced a Series of ExplanationsWhen the tickets did not appear, prosecutors say Whelan gave the buyers varying explanations.