$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
extended car warranty robocall scam
Robocallers claim your vehicle warranty is about to expire and pressure you into purchasing an expensive extended warranty from a fraudulent third-party company.
“extended warranty scam”
↑ 284%Key indicators
Usually targetsCar owners
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Automated robocallers dial millions of numbers with a recorded message claiming the recipient vehicle warranty is expiring
2
Victims who press a number to speak with an agent are connected to a high-pressure sales rep who sells worthless or extremely limited coverage
3
The warranty company collects monthly payments but denies nearly all claims or becomes unreachable when service is needed
What to do first
Hang up on unsolicited warranty calls and add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov
Related terms
auto warranty robocallvehicle service contract scamcar warranty phone scamWarranty scamsPhoneRisingCar ownersConsumersOlder adultsFreelancers and contractorsRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesCanadaauto warranty robocallvehicle service contract scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Samantha, 35, a car owners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate warranty scams situation while using Phone. Automated robocallers dial millions of numbers with a recorded message claiming the recipient vehicle warranty is expiring
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Victims who press a number to speak with an agent are connected to a high-pressure sales rep who sells worthless or extremely limited coverage
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The warranty company collects monthly payments but denies nearly all claims or becomes unreachable when service is needed
The outcome
Samantha realized something was wrong when unsolicited robocall uses urgent language about your warranty expiring today or this week. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Hang up on unsolicited warranty calls and add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov Samantha's experience shows why unsolicited robocall uses urgent language about your warranty expiring today or this week and caller cannot provide your specific vehicle make, model, or vin when asked are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unsolicited robocall uses urgent language about your warranty expiring today or this week
- Caller cannot provide your specific vehicle make, model, or VIN when asked
- Company requires immediate credit card payment over the phone to activate coverage
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Hang up on unsolicited warranty calls and add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov
- ✓If concerned about your actual warranty, contact your vehicle manufacturer or dealer directly
- ✓Report the robocall to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your phone carrier spam line
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC and state attorneys general shut down a major auto warranty scam operation in 2023 that had bilked consumers out of over 6 million USD through robocalls
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Hang up on unsolicited warranty calls and add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov
- ✓If concerned about your actual warranty, contact your vehicle manufacturer or dealer directly
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC and state attorneys general shut down a major auto warranty scam operation in 2023 that had bilked consumers out of over 6 million USD through robocalls
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Car owners, Consumers, Older adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Phone — Warranty scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Car owners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC and state attorneys general shut down a major auto warranty scam operation in 2023 that had bilked consumers out of over 6 million USD through robocalls
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about extended car warranty robocall scam
How does the extended car warranty robocall scam work?+
Automated robocallers dial millions of numbers with a recorded message claiming the recipient vehicle warranty is expiring Victims who press a number to speak with an agent are connected to a high-pressure sales rep who sells worthless or extremely limited coverage The warranty company collects monthly payments but denies nearly all claims or becomes unreachable when service is needed
What are the warning signs of extended car warranty robocall scam?+
Unsolicited robocall uses urgent language about your warranty expiring today or this week Caller cannot provide your specific vehicle make, model, or VIN when asked Company requires immediate credit card payment over the phone to activate coverage
What should I do if I encounter extended car warranty robocall scam?+
Hang up on unsolicited warranty calls and add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov If concerned about your actual warranty, contact your vehicle manufacturer or dealer directly Report the robocall to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your phone carrier spam line
Who is most at risk for extended car warranty robocall scam?+
This scam primarily targets Car owners, Consumers, Older adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Phone.
Is extended car warranty robocall scam on the rise?+
extended car warranty robocall scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.