'Your Warranty Is Expiring' Renewal Scam
A call, robocall, or letter warns that your vehicle or appliance warranty is about to expire and pressures you to buy an overpriced or worthless 'extended warranty.' (Auto version overlaps F27.)
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You get a 'final notice' that your car, appliance, or home warranty is expiring and must be renewed now. High-pressure sales push you to pay for an 'extended warranty' or 'service contract' that is overpriced, riddled with exclusions, or entirely fake. The callers often already have some basic info about you to sound legitimate. Real manufacturers and dealers do not cold-call with 'final notices' demanding immediate payment.
What it usually looks like
- A 'final notice' your warranty is expiring.
- Robocalls or letters urging immediate renewal.
- High-pressure pitches for an 'extended warranty.'
- Requests for your card to 'lock in coverage.'
Common warning signs
- Unsolicited 'warranty expiring' calls/letters.
- Pressure to buy coverage immediately.
- Vague company details and heavy exclusions.
- Card requested on the spot.
Example wording scammers use
“This is your final notice: your vehicle's warranty is about to expire. Press 1 to renew before coverage lapses.”
“Your appliance protection plan ends soon — renew today to avoid costly repairs.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Payment for overpriced or fake coverage.
- Your card details.
- To exploit fear of repair costs.
What to do
- Hang up on warranty robocalls; do not press keys.
- Check your actual warranty status with the manufacturer or dealer.
- Never buy coverage under phone pressure.
- Read any contract's exclusions before paying.
What to do if you already responded
- Dispute the charge and cancel the contract within any cooling-off period.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the Do Not Call registry.
- Watch for further calls.