A cautionary alert has been raised following reports that nearly a dozen families in Perth have fallen prey to a renovation scam. Allan Jason Dean Howard, a 30-year-old, is accused of taking nearly $80,000 in deposits from clients and then disappearing before completing any of the promised work.
Howard appeared in court recently while police urged the public to exercise caution when hiring renovators online. One of the victims, Piero Staci from Cooloongup, shared his devastating experience, explaining how his family’s dream renovation turned into a financial disaster. After refinancing his home, Staci paid a contractor a $21,000 deposit, only for the tradesman to fail to show up on the scheduled start date. Staci noted that the contractor used multiple excuses to avoid starting the job.
Authorities allege that Howard, operating under the name Allan’s Plastering, is the individual behind this deceitful scheme. Consumer Protection has reportedly received 11 complaints against him, with losses collectively nearing $79,000. Victims from various suburbs, including Mindarie and Cooloongup, have come forward, stating they paid upfront for work that was never completed.
Howard has been charged with theft and forgery in Armadale Magistrates Court, although he has not yet entered a plea. The affected families fear they might never recuperate their losses but are hopeful that sharing their warnings will assist in preventing others from experiencing similar scams.