Water Damaged Cars Being Used to Con Consumers

When a flood or other natural disaster happens drivers often are faced with a situation in which their vehicle becomes flooded by water and cannot operate any longer. If this happens then a driver would file an auto insurance claim to see if they can get compensation for the necessary repairs or a replacement of the vehicle.
The economy has increased the reports of people selling used vehicles that have been damaged during floods and other weather events. It is important for drivers who wish to purchase a used vehicle to consult Carfax and a new service called VINCheck. With VINCheck a driver can run the used vehicle’s VIN numbers to see if the vehicle has been stolen or was classified as salvage and unrecovered. If you do find the vehicle’s VIN numbers and they match the vehicle’s then you should alert the local authorities so that they can end this type of scam.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau has issued a statement that warns drivers that many used vehicles in flood ravaged areas have been written off as losses and sent to salvage yards to be sold for parts. However, the Bureau is finding that many people are committing scams with these vehicles and selling them below market value to consumers. The scam artists will clean up the vehicles and make them smell like they are brand new cars. Consumers need to be aware of how to avoid being a victim of this type of fraud because once a person buys a flood ravaged vehicle it may be very hard if not impossible to recoup the money that they wasted on the vehicle.
This is because many people who come up with these scams do so without ever using their real identities. In most instances, the vehicle will not be for sale at their private residence and they will want to do most of the contact through e-mail or cell phone because these communications are not as easily traceable as written forms of communication are.
There are ways to just examine a vehicle and know if it has had extensive water damage. The first is to make sure that there is no mildew, mud deposits, or water lines. If these are easily seen then the vehicle has been submerged in water before and you should not purchase it. The second thing to do is to verify that the VIN number on the vehicle matches the one on its engine and paper work. It is also a good idea to ask the owner to take the vehicle to your local mechanic and have it looked over.
Most mechanics charge a $25 dollar fee to have a vehicle examine to look for issues. They should be able to tell if the body’s interior or exterior shows signs of being water damaged. Ask the mechanic what he thinks that the vehicle is worth and then use the Kelley Blue Book guide to find an approximate value based on the mileage of the vehicle. If the asking price is not even close to the mechanic’s estimate and the Blue Book value then in most cases there is something wrong with the vehicle that has not been disclosed yet.
Trust your instincts and if a person is offering you a vehicle for well below its current market value then walk away from the deal and look for a different vehicle to purchase. If something seems off to you then contact the National Insurance Crime Bureau and ask them to open an investigation into the potential scam that you have uncovered. You may just help prevent someone else from being scammed.
Source: Sachee