A construction company owner has been arrested and charged following a fraud investigation in Ajax, Ontario, after a client paid tens of thousands of dollars for a home construction project that was never completed.
Durham Regional Police say the victim paid Aria Build Corp. $56,560 in August 2024 to finish construction of a residence and to enroll the property in a Tarion Warranty program. The Tarion program is a mandatory, provincially backed home warranty designed to protect buyers of residential homes in Ontario.
According to police, the victim dealt directly with the company’s owner, and the payment was deposited into a bank account associated with the business. As work on the home progressed, a dispute emerged over the payment schedule and the completion of the project, which police say led the company to stop work altogether.
Warranty Enrollment Never Completed
After construction halted, the victim contacted Tarion to find out what protections might be available, only to discover that the property had never actually been enrolled in the warranty program as promised.
Behzad Ayon, 30, the owner of Aria Build Corp., has been charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Police Seek Additional Victims
Durham Regional Police say they believe there may be other victims connected to the case and are asking anyone with relevant information to come forward, either by contacting police directly or through Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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