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Water-Damaged Katrina Cars Hit the Market

February 1, 2006
Hurricane Katrina cars are seeping into the used car market as scam artists try to pawn off the flood-damaged vehicles to unsuspecting consumers.

Carfax is warning that Katrina cars are now hitting the market and "could pop up anywhere," according to spokesman Chris Basso.

Scammers tried to pawn off 14 flood-damaged cars at an auto auction in the Los Angeles area, according to Carfax.

The National Auto Dealers Association estimates more than 571,000 vehicles were damaged by Hurricane Katrina and the damaged vehicles are likely to show up areas of the country where buyers aren't used to looking for flood damage.

Basso said that in most cases scammers buy vehicles that should have been scrapped or sold for parts, cleaning them up and shipping them to another part of the country where they can alter the title and pass them off to unsuspecting buyers.

Flood-damaged cars may look fine at first glance, but in many cases the safety and electronic systems can be compromised.

Carfax recommends looking for evidence of standing water in the spare tire wheel well or rust around the engine compartment. Consumers should have a mechanic look the car and consider ordering a report of the vehicle's history.

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