Homeowners lose $37K in alleged renovation scam in Mississauga, Brampton
Published May 21, 2024 at 12:54 pm
A Toronto man believed to have operated contracting businesses in different GTA locations — including Mississauga — is facing fraud charges after three customers in Peel paid a total of $37,000 for home renovations that were allegedly never completed.
Peel Regional Police fraud investigators said in a news release on Tuesday that a company known as TRT Masonry & General Contracting is believed to have signed three renovation contracts and collected deposits totalling $37,000 from Peel customers between April and November of 2023. Police didn’t specify if the alleged victims are from Mississauga or Brampton, or both.
An online search shows the latest location of a company bearing that name, or a similar name, to be in Etobicoke. Mississauga appears to have served as a previous location.
Police said that in each of the three dealings with customers, the owner of the business is alleged to have “promised to provide a service, signed a contract, collected a deposit and failed to provide said service or return the deposit.”
Trisztan Tarnoci, 23, of Toronto, was arrested last Thursday. He’s charged with defrauding the public and possession of property obtained by crime.
He’ll appear in Brampton court at a later date, police said.
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Investigators believe there are more victims and they encourage them to contact police.
A number of online reviews of TRT Masonry & General Contracting are from people claiming to have been customers of the company, including one person from Brampton. They expressed dissatisfaction, alleging work was incomplete and that their deposits were not refunded.
Police remind the public “to be meticulous in vetting their contractors by asking for personal referrals, checking online reviews and verifying their credentials.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 905-453–2121, ext. 3335, or Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Trisztan Tarnoci, 23, of Toronto, is facing fraud charges. (Photo: Peel Regional Police)