Brampton man charged in roofing fraud

Toronto police have charged a 23-year-old Brampton man after two elderly homeowners were allegedly talked into paying cash for home repairs that police say were fake. (tps.ca) Police said the case began in July 2024, when several men went to the victims’ homes and claimed to be legitimate contractors and City of Toronto workers. Investigators allege the victims paid for “roof repairs,” “mandatory backyard clean-ups” and “emergency home repairs” that were never required or finished. (tps.ca) Arashdeep Singh, 23, was arrested on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, according to police. He is charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000, three counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, two counts of laundering the proceeds of Canadian crime, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000. (tps.ca) Police said Singh allegedly used three business names in the scheme: Xcellent Custom Homes Ltd., Friendly Masonry Ltd., and 17051450 Canada Inc. CityNews, citing Toronto police, reported that the men presented themselves as contractors and city workers to make the pitch look official. (tps.ca, toronto.citynews.ca) The charges landed a week after Toronto police issued a broader public warning about a roofing fraud and impersonation scam aimed at homeowners. In that alert, police said suspects identified supposed problems with roofs, chimneys or exterior walls, then claimed new urgent defects as the job went on and pressed victims for more money. (tps.ca) That warning described a second layer to some cases: after a homeowner refused to keep paying, another person allegedly showed up claiming to be an Interpol investigator. Police said the impersonator displayed what looked like official identification, told victims they were under surveillance, and demanded more large payments tied to the fake investigation. (tps.ca) Police have said they believe the contractor scam is coordinated and ongoing, and that more victims may exist. In the April 22 arrest release, investigators asked anyone with information to contact Toronto police at 416-808-3400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously. (tps.ca, tps.ca) Door-to-door home repair fraud has also drawn warnings outside Toronto. Peel Regional Police warned Mississauga and Brampton residents in March 2024 that scammers were going house to house, especially targeting older adults, offering unsolicited repairs while pretending to represent real companies. (insauga.com) For homeowners, the pattern in this case was simple: an uninvited pitch, a claim that repairs were urgent, and cash collected before the promised work was done. For police, the next step is finding out whether the two reported victims are the full scope of the case. (tps.ca, tps.ca)