A construction company owner has been arrested and charged in connection with a fraud investigation in Ajax after the victim paid over $50,000 for a home construction project that was never finished.
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Durham Regional Police say the victim paid Aria Build Corp. $56,560 in August 2024 to complete construction of a residence and enroll the property in a Tarion Warranty program.
A Tarion warranty is a mandatory, provincially backed home warranty program aimed at protecting buyers of residential homes.
The victim dealt directly with the company’s owner, and the money was deposited into a bank account associated with the company, according to a news release.
As construction progressed, a dispute arose over the payment schedule and completion of the work, prompting the company to stop work on the home, police said.
The victim subsequently contacted Tarion to determine what warranty protections were available, then learned the property had never been enrolled in the program.
Behzad Ayon, 30, owner of Aria Build Corp., has been charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Police believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact Durham Regional Police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson on behalf of Aria Build Corp said that “Aria Build Corp denies any wrongdoing. This is a civil contract dispute in which we are seeking payment for work we completed.”
“We never charged the homeowner for Tarion enrolment, and the project did not qualify because the homeowner acted as her own builder. I was never interviewed before these charges were laid. We will respond fully through the courts and are confident the facts will clear our name.”
