PITTSBURGH (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) As clean-up continues after Hurricane Ian in Florida, thousands of flooded cars, trucks and SUVs are among the damage, some of the vehicles could end up on a used car lot here.
It's a common scam after flooding and hurricanes; scammers will buy water damaged vehicles and try to sell them as if they're in good condition.
The cars usually wind up far from where they came from, according to Caitlin Driscoll with the Better Business Bureau.
“Often by the time mechanical and electrical issues become apparent,” Driscoll said. “The seller is long gone and the owner with little to no resource.”
The best way to avoid getting one of these lemons - ask for the vehicle history report, and check for any noticeable defects like an inaccurate speedometer.
With the cost of used cars up since the pandemic, experts warn the scam could be more common than ever.