SCAM LIBRARY · PHISHING & LINKS
The expiring car-warranty robocall
Scammers call claiming your car warranty is expiring and pressure you to act fast—but it's a fake alert designed to steal money or personal information.
Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-07
How it works
You receive an automated call or voicemail claiming your vehicle's warranty is about to expire and urging you to press a button or call back immediately. The message creates artificial urgency, suggesting your coverage will vanish if you don't respond right away. If you call back, a person may try to sell you a fake or overpriced warranty, or ask for payment details or personal information.
What it can look like
You get a robocall saying your car's manufacturer warranty expires in 48 hours and to press 1 to speak with a representative. When you press 1 out of curiosity (or concern), someone asks for your vehicle identification number and credit card to 'secure your coverage'—but no legitimate process works this way.
Red flags
- Calls or messages about expiring warranties you don't remember purchasing
- Pressure to act immediately or your coverage will vanish
- Requests for payment by wire transfer, gift card, or credit card over the phone
- Caller won't provide verifiable details about your actual vehicle or existing warranty
- Caller ID shows a generic or suspicious number, or says 'unavailable'
What to do
- Hang up immediately—do not press buttons, give information, or call back the number in the message
- Contact your car manufacturer or insurance company directly using the phone number on your policy or official website to verify if any warranty action is needed
- Report the call or message at reportfraud.ftc.gov so authorities can track the scam