$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
An automated call claims your vehicle's warranty is about to expire and urges you to call back or press a number to renew, leading to a high-pressure sale for a worthless or overpriced service contract.
“robocall”
↑ 126%Key indicators
Usually targetsPhone users
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$80 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports50,000
Scam breakdown
1
Robocallers dial millions of numbers with a pre-recorded message about an expiring auto warranty.
2
Those who press a number or call back are connected to a salesperson who pushes an expensive vehicle service contract.
3
The contract often has extensive exclusions, making it nearly worthless for actual repairs.
What to do first
Hang up — do not press any number or call back.
Related terms
auto warranty robocallcar warranty expiration callvehicle service contract scamRobocall scamsPhoneRisingPhone usersConsumersFreelancers and contractorsRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersUnited Statesauto warranty robocallcar warranty expiration call
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Laura, 35, a phone users, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate robocall scams situation while using Phone. Robocallers dial millions of numbers with a pre-recorded message about an expiring auto warranty.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Those who press a number or call back are connected to a salesperson who pushes an expensive vehicle service contract.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The contract often has extensive exclusions, making it nearly worthless for actual repairs.
The outcome
Laura realized something was wrong when pre-recorded message claims your car warranty is expiring — even if you never had one or your car is decades old. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Hang up — do not press any number or call back. Laura's experience shows why pre-recorded message claims your car warranty is expiring — even if you never had one or your car is decades old and caller does not know the make, model, or year of your vehicle are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Pre-recorded message claims your car warranty is expiring — even if you never had one or your car is decades old
- Caller does not know the make, model, or year of your vehicle
- High-pressure sales tactics and demand for immediate payment
- 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 — do not press any number or call back.
- ✓Register your number with the FTC Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.
- ✓Report the call to the FTC and consider using a call-blocking app.
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 have pursued enforcement actions against auto warranty robocall operations, resulting in billions of calls being traced to a small number of companies.
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 — do not press any number or call back.
- ✓Register your number with the FTC Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.
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 have pursued enforcement actions against auto warranty robocall operations, resulting in billions of calls being traced to a small number of companies.
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
Phone users, Consumers
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Phone — Robocall scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Phone users 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 have pursued enforcement actions against auto warranty robocall operations, resulting in billions of calls being traced to a small number of companies.
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?+
Robocallers dial millions of numbers with a pre-recorded message about an expiring auto warranty. Those who press a number or call back are connected to a salesperson who pushes an expensive vehicle service contract. The contract often has extensive exclusions, making it nearly worthless for actual repairs.
What are the warning signs of extended car warranty robocall scam?+
Pre-recorded message claims your car warranty is expiring — even if you never had one or your car is decades old Caller does not know the make, model, or year of your vehicle High-pressure sales tactics and demand for immediate payment
What should I do if I encounter extended car warranty robocall scam?+
Hang up — do not press any number or call back. Register your number with the FTC Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. Report the call to the FTC and consider using a call-blocking app.
Who is most at risk for extended car warranty robocall scam?+
This scam primarily targets Phone users, Consumers. It is most commonly reported in United States 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. 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.