A Houston disabled veteran claims he was swindled out of thousands of dollars by a mechanic who he said failed to complete repairs.
Darwin Blanco met the mechanic through Facebook Marketplace after looking for someone to repair a Land Rover engine. Blanco initially had a positive experience.
“Communication was great. You know, I would text him, he would text back,” Blanco recalls.
However, he said things took a turn.
Blanco sent the mechanic a total of $8,800 between February and April of 2024, hoping to sell the vehicle after repairs. Despite the payments, Blanco hasn’t seen his car since the mechanic picked it up last year.
“Frustration is an understatement,” he expressed.
Houston Police confirmed with KPRC 2’s Rilwan Balogun that Blanco filed a report in October 2024 claiming the Land Rover was stolen after the mechanic picked it up. A department spokesperson told Balogun that Blanco needed to file a report with the auto theft division so it could begin the 10-day demand letter process.
A demand letter is a tool used to resolve disputes before resorting to court, commonly sent when someone owes money.
KPRC 2 is not identifying the mechanic because he hasn’t been charged with a crime.
“I was hoping that he was being honest,” the Army veteran said. “And I’m not gonna lie to you. I’m gonna be honest. One of my biggest problems is I give people trust before service.”
After informing the mechanic about the police report, communication ceased.
In a recent phone call, Balogun attempted to contact the mechanic, but the call was abruptly ended. Shortly after, Balogun sent the mechanic a text message asking him to comment on this story.
“I’ll contact him to resolve this. Thank you, buddy,” the mechanic said in response to Balogun’s text message.
“At the end of the day, a thousand, $2,000 to $5,000 may not be a lot to a lot of people, but to someone like myself who’s a disabled vet, I don’t make a lot of money. And I have two kids in college. So, every dollar that I have has to count,” Blanco said.
The mechanic did reach out to Blanco.
He sent Blanco $500 through Cash App. The mechanic told Blanco he would keep sending $500 every Saturday until he’s paid him in full. The mechanic also said he would tow the Land Rover back to Blanco’s home.
Blanco shared with Balogun a screenshot of their text message conversation in which Blanco said he didn’t want to be in a payment plan but instead he wants his full $8, 665.
The Better Business Bureau advises buyers and sellers to be weary of people offering too good of a deal.
- Don’t trust anyone willing to overpay you. Unless your item is rare and you receive multiple offers, be wary of buyers offering you more than your asking price. Consider it a red flag if someone is quick to send you more money than you are asking.
- If buying, always meet the seller and see the item for sale before purchasing. This will help you avoid most scams on Facebook Marketplace. If a seller refuses to let you see the item in advance, there’s a chance it may not exist or may be defective in some way.
- Resist the pressure to act immediately. Shady actors typically try to make you think something is scarce or a limited-time offer. They want to push victims to make a decision right now before even thinking through it, asking family members, friends, or financial advisors. Sometimes, they’ll advise against contacting anyone and just trusting them. While high-pressure sales tactics are also used by some legitimate businesses, it typically isn’t a good idea to make an important decision quickly. Know what to look for when spotting a scam.
- Use secure and traceable transactions. Do not pay by wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card, or another non-traditional payment method (see number one above). Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, overpayments, and handshake deals without a contract. Read all of the small print on the contract and make sure to understand what the terms are. Learn more about your rights and responsibilities when it comes to payment types.
