$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
warranty expiration phishing email scam
Phishing emails claiming your product warranty is about to expire direct you to fraudulent websites designed to steal login credentials and payment information.
“extended warranty scam”
↑ 284%Key indicators
Usually targetsConsumers
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
Scammers send mass phishing emails mimicking major brands claiming the recipient product warranty is about to expire
2
The email contains a link to a fake renewal page that requests login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal information
3
Harvested data is used for unauthorized purchases, account takeover, or sold to other criminals
What to do first
Never click links in unsolicited warranty expiration emails and instead log in to your account directly on the manufacturer website
Related terms
warranty expiry phishingfake warranty notice emailwarranty renewal phishingWarranty scamsEmailRisingConsumersOnline shoppersCar ownersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomGermanywarranty expiry phishingfake warranty notice email
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Megan, 35, a consumers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate warranty scams situation while using Email. Scammers send mass phishing emails mimicking major brands claiming the recipient product warranty is about to expire
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The email contains a link to a fake renewal page that requests login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal information
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Harvested data is used for unauthorized purchases, account takeover, or sold to other criminals
The outcome
Megan realized something was wrong when email uses generic greetings like dear customer instead of your name. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never click links in unsolicited warranty expiration emails and instead log in to your account directly on the manufacturer website Megan's experience shows why email uses generic greetings like dear customer instead of your name and urgency language states your warranty expires within 24-48 hours are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Email uses generic greetings like Dear Customer instead of your name
- Urgency language states your warranty expires within 24-48 hours
- The renewal link URL does not match the manufacturer or retailer official domain
- 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
- ✓Never click links in unsolicited warranty expiration emails and instead log in to your account directly on the manufacturer website
- ✓Forward suspicious emails to the brand official phishing report address and to your email provider
- ✓Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to protect against credential theft
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.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
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 Anti-Phishing Working Group recorded over 4.7 million phishing attacks in 2023, with brand impersonation being the dominant method
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.
- ✓Never click links in unsolicited warranty expiration emails and instead log in to your account directly on the manufacturer website
- ✓Forward suspicious emails to the brand official phishing report address and to your email provider
- ✓Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to protect against credential theft
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 Anti-Phishing Working Group recorded over 4.7 million phishing attacks in 2023, with brand impersonation being the dominant method
OpenScam research
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, Online shoppers, Car owners
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Germany
Primary channel
Email — 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 Anti-Phishing Working Group recorded over 4.7 million phishing attacks in 2023, with brand impersonation being the dominant method
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about warranty expiration phishing email scam
How does the warranty expiration phishing email scam work?+
Scammers send mass phishing emails mimicking major brands claiming the recipient product warranty is about to expire The email contains a link to a fake renewal page that requests login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal information Harvested data is used for unauthorized purchases, account takeover, or sold to other criminals
What are the warning signs of warranty expiration phishing email scam?+
Email uses generic greetings like Dear Customer instead of your name Urgency language states your warranty expires within 24-48 hours The renewal link URL does not match the manufacturer or retailer official domain
What should I do if I encounter warranty expiration phishing email scam?+
Never click links in unsolicited warranty expiration emails and instead log in to your account directly on the manufacturer website Forward suspicious emails to the brand official phishing report address and to your email provider Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts to protect against credential theft
Who is most at risk for warranty expiration phishing email scam?+
This scam primarily targets Consumers, Online shoppers, Car owners. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Germany and typically appears on Email.
Is warranty expiration phishing email scam on the rise?+
warranty expiration phishing email scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, DE. 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.