$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
manufacturer impersonator warranty scam
Scammers impersonate well-known manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, or LG by phone or email, offering fake extended warranties that collect payments and personal data.
“extended warranty scam”
↑ 284%Key indicators
Usually targetsConsumers
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers spoof phone numbers to appear as legitimate manufacturer support lines and call consumers about their warranty
2
They may request remote device access under the guise of running a warranty diagnostic check
3
With remote access, they install malware, steal personal data, or charge for unnecessary warranty coverage
What to do first
Hang up and call the manufacturer directly using the phone number listed on their official website
Related terms
brand impersonation warranty scamfake manufacturer callwarranty spoofingWarranty scamsPhoneRisingConsumersSmartphone usersPhone usersRetirees and seniorsImmigrants and visa holdersOnline shoppersUnited StatesIndiaUnited Kingdombrand impersonation warranty scamfake manufacturer call
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 35, a consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate warranty scams situation while using Phone. Scammers spoof phone numbers to appear as legitimate manufacturer support lines and call consumers about their warranty
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They may request remote device access under the guise of running a warranty diagnostic check
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: With remote access, they install malware, steal personal data, or charge for unnecessary warranty coverage
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when caller claims to be from a major brand but calls from an unverifiable number and cannot access your purchase records. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Hang up and call the manufacturer directly using the phone number listed on their official website Wei's experience shows why caller claims to be from a major brand but calls from an unverifiable number and cannot access your purchase records and they request remote access to your device to verify warranty status are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Caller claims to be from a major brand but calls from an unverifiable number and cannot access your purchase records
- They request remote access to your device to verify warranty status
- Payment is requested through unusual channels like gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- 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 and call the manufacturer directly using the phone number listed on their official website
- ✓Never grant remote access to your device based on an unsolicited call
- ✓Report impersonation calls to the FTC and to the brand being impersonated through their official fraud reporting channel
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 reports that business impersonator scams accounted for billions in losses in 2023, with tech companies being among the most frequently impersonated brands
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 and call the manufacturer directly using the phone number listed on their official website
- ✓Never grant remote access to your device based on an unsolicited call
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 reports that business impersonator scams accounted for billions in losses in 2023, with tech companies being among the most frequently impersonated brands
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
Consumers, Smartphone users, Phone users
Geographic concentration
United States, India, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Phone — Warranty scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Consumers 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 reports that business impersonator scams accounted for billions in losses in 2023, with tech companies being among the most frequently impersonated brands
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about manufacturer impersonator warranty scam
How does the manufacturer impersonator warranty scam work?+
Scammers spoof phone numbers to appear as legitimate manufacturer support lines and call consumers about their warranty They may request remote device access under the guise of running a warranty diagnostic check With remote access, they install malware, steal personal data, or charge for unnecessary warranty coverage
What are the warning signs of manufacturer impersonator warranty scam?+
Caller claims to be from a major brand but calls from an unverifiable number and cannot access your purchase records They request remote access to your device to verify warranty status Payment is requested through unusual channels like gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
What should I do if I encounter manufacturer impersonator warranty scam?+
Hang up and call the manufacturer directly using the phone number listed on their official website Never grant remote access to your device based on an unsolicited call Report impersonation calls to the FTC and to the brand being impersonated through their official fraud reporting channel
Who is most at risk for manufacturer impersonator warranty scam?+
This scam primarily targets Consumers, Smartphone users, Phone users. It is most commonly reported in United States, India, United Kingdom and typically appears on Phone.
Is manufacturer impersonator warranty scam on the rise?+
manufacturer impersonator warranty scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, IN, UK. 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.