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 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z

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.

How it unfolds

Scams like this follow a pattern. Knowing the arc helps you notice where you are — and step away before the ask.

You receive a robocall or text claiming your car's warranty is expiring soon and you need to act immediately. The message feels urgent and official, often mentioning your vehicle by type or year.

If you call the number back (or they call again after you answer), a person takes over. They sound calm and helpful, asking for your vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate to 'look up your warranty details.' They may use technical language to sound legitimate.

They tell you that you qualify for a coverage extension or special offer, but only if you act right now. They ask for a payment method—usually a credit card or bank account—to 'process the paperwork' or 'secure your spot.'

Once payment is taken, the caller vanishes, or you realize the 'warranty' doesn't exist and your bank has charged you. The number becomes unreachable or the company name doesn't appear anywhere legitimate.

**Stop here:** If you haven't given payment information yet, hang up immediately. If you're unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call your actual car manufacturer or insurer directly using a number from your owner's manual or their official website.

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

If it already happened

Acting quickly can limit the damage. You are not alone, and it is not your fault.

Stop all contact with the caller. Do not answer further calls from that number, and do not call them back. Block the number on your phone.
Contact your bank or credit card company immediately. Tell them you believe you were charged fraudulently and ask them to reverse the charge and monitor your account for further unauthorized activity.
If you provided your bank account or routing number, ask your bank to watch for suspicious withdrawals and consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Include the phone number that called you, any names given, what was said, and when it happened. This helps protect others.

Sources

Guidance on this page draws on public, authoritative consumer-protection resources (verified live 2026-07-10). Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-11T18:14:57.874Z.

Spotted this or lost money? Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is general educational information, not legal or financial advice — and ScamVet never asks for your identity or account details.

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