When Deidri Schonewolf’s 2007 Dodge Charger refused to start late last year, Schonewolf wasn’t too worried. She figured the underlying issue was something simple, like it overheated, or maybe it needed new sparkplugs.
However, a mechanic close to her said her engine was done for. Refusing to sign up for car payments, she was advised to “shop around” for a used engine that he volunteered to install for her. He removed the old one and urged her to get started. Schonewolf’s problem was, she had no idea where to start.
“What do I do? Where do I go? I’ve never looked for an engine before in my life,” Schonewolf told AZ Family. Her instincts told her to check out Facebook Marketplace. Not long into her search, she found someone selling an engine for her Charger for $1,500.
It was in New York, but “Ben” was offering to ship the 5.7-liter V8 for free. He told her it would take seven to 10 days to arrive.
To her dismay, Ben never shipped the engine
Ten days passed, and she never saw the engine. Three months later, still nothing from Ben – or an engine.
“I’m waiting and waiting and I’m like, ‘Where’s this engine?’” she said. Schonewolf said she had to take the money from her retirement fund to buy it, too. “I had to borrow it actually from my 401(k) to get that money for my engine.”
She’s trying to dispute the charge with her credit card company, saying it was a fraudulent charge, and is anxiously waiting for the bank to make a decision.
The scammer is still out there
Reporters revealed multiple customers were victims of “Ben’s” online scam. One user wrote to the outlet to say they spent $1,800 on an engine that never arrived. Another said they bought a truck engine that never arrived, and Ben had them blocked.
A reporter got ahold of Ben, and Ben yelled at him and hung up.
While Schonewolf waits for the bank’s decision, she says she’s more cautious about what she sees on the internet.
“I would probably be a little more cautious about who I talk to especially when it costs a lot of money like that,” she said.
