I started getting the calls and letters two days after I purchased a new car once, the only miles it had on it were from driving home from the dealership!

I bought a new car last year and they wanted to sell me an extended warranty. I said I would think about it. The car was a Ford Escape and the extended warranty was over $1700. I decided to take my chances and not purchase it. If it needs repair after the manufacturer warranty runs out I will just pay for it. If it becomes truly troublesome I will trade it in for something else.

Scams tons of them for the supposed extended warranty. We get calls weekly to get extended warranty on our vehicles that were lost in the flood. We have told them that they keep calling.

You can buy a extended warranty on a toilet.

I think many of you are misusing the word "scam". A scam is something that's fraudulent or deceitful. A car warranty scam would be a situation where someone is trying to "sell" something when in reality it's phony and no real coverage is provided. Your money is stolen and that's the end of the story.

A coverage proposal may be of questionable value or unreasonably expensive. It may be something you don't need. The sales outreach methods may be unacceptable to you. Fine, but none of those things make it a scam.

I drive nothing but second hand cars. These are not reputable businesses who contact me. They haven't mailed anything to me. Their phone numbers are never the same because I block them every time. I get calls about it at least a couple of times a week.

If you're getting bogus sales calls, then your experience has nothing at all to do with any car you own nor how old it is. It would then be no different than the calls about Nigerian bank accounts from which you can make money, or those telling you "your grandson has been arrested and told me to call you for bail money". A con job is a con job, the subject doesn't matter.

The extended warranty sales contacts I've received have been both by mail and phone and cite my car(s) with specificity. I've also been pitched at the dealers when taking car(s) in for service.

The scammers do cite one's cars with specificity

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/beware-auto-warranty-scams

I was trying to offer some balance and calm to the conversation.

Anyone who wants to is welcome to feel threatened, intimidated and worried and to get upset about these non-risks. Some need to by inclination or from lacking enough substantive things to do to pass their days.

People who want to be mad and and blow up the seriousness of these passing encounters that are so easy to identify, great! Too bad.

Artemis, I am glad you were not taken in. But the issue seems serious enough so that the government is posting warnings about these scams. While some scoff, the fact is that many are taken for their money, and I'm glad you raised the issue so we can be more mindful.

Neither Government warnings, nor most other warnings for that matter, offer protection for those lacking common sense and clear thinking in their actions.

I get those calls all the time! I tried hitting the number to not be called again, but that didn't work. Blocked the calls, but they came back. So then I started to push the number to be connected to a person. When they ask about my vehicle I tell the truth. A 2019 Grand Caravan. They then ask why did I want to get connected to them. I ask them why am I not on their do not call list since I have pushed that number over and over again, yet they still call! Then they hang up on me. Not my problem!

Kathy, never ever respond in any way. Not hitting the number ti be not called or connecting to a person. That just tells the scammer that your number is a real one. Solution is to hang up ( and no need to be 'polite') the minute you know it's not a legit call. Face it, these days 99% of all calls are not legit. If you can. just don't answer, and most of the time they won't leave a message. If you have an older person calling you, like Mom or Aunt Betty, tell them to leave a message and you'll be right back to them.

The crooks do not obey the 'Do Not Call' list anyway.

The call I always get is a recording saying they have been trying to reach me and it is of the utmost importance that I respond or lose my chance to take advantage of this vehicle warranty, etc. and etc. Press 1 to speak to an agent. Press 2 to be removed from their list. It doesn't matter what you press....they will call you back. They will use a local prefix, so you don't know when you get the call if it is a legit call or not. I usually answer and hang up as soon as they start the recording.

We've just stopped answering our phone. Scam or not, the majority of these callers are intent on one thing - parting people from their hard earned dollars. If I need something, I'll go looking for it myself. Don't call me, I'll call you.

"We've just stopped answering our phone."

Then you've surrendered to the bad guys and allow them to dictate how you live your life. That's like people who get quiet to pretend no one is home when there's a knock or a ringing doorbell. In some neighborhoods, fine, but for most, it's allowing the innocent nothings in their world to needlessly trigger fear. Either way, it's too bad.

With phone calls, not everyone who calls our home number pays attention to the caller ID data that's transmitted with their calls. That's especially true with businesses, for what reason I can't understand. I enter known numbers into the home directory but even with that, more than half of the incoming calls we get are unidentified, unrecognized but legit calls we want to answer. Cower in the corner and let our pulse rates climb until the phone stops ringing? No, that's not something either of us wants to do. If it's a call that doesn't interest me, I say "No thanks" and end it.

"Then you've surrendered to the bad guys and allow them to dictate how you live your life."

That's quite an assumption you've made there, Elmer.

The tip off was when the salesman tried the scare tactic of mentioning an expensive part, the engine controller, the computer that is the brains of modern cars. That part, although expensive, is more reliable than many other pieces under the hood. I have not had to replace an engine controller over my last 30 yrs of driving. I'm retired now and do not put a lot of miles on my car, but when I was employed, I'd put up to 15,000 miles per year on my vehicles.

In our area, we don't get many calls selling extended warranties, but over the past 6 months, calls that state, "MicroSoft has found that your computer is sick, blah, blah, ...." has come back. Many of these operators 'spoof' the phone number and that defeats number blocking and call tracing. Spoofing hides the true number of the caller by making it appear to be a different number.

I get at least 10 to 15 calls a day. Most of them are spoofed local cell phone numbers. I keep do not disturb on my phone on and when I wake up in the afternoon I just go to the missed calls and block all the numbers that I do not know. It's easier than answering and saying no thank you 15 times a day. Oftentimes when you answer, it records your number as a "live number." These are usually compiled into lists and sold from one scammer to another.

Very few legitimate companies still make cold telemarketing calls. They are aimed at people who are used to all calls being legitimate and might not suspect foul play. Most companies are savvy enough to know that modern consumers are wary of and irritated by such calls and are focusing their marketing efforts more on online platforms. Still annoying but WAY less invasive and irritating.

Oh yea, jemdandy, just had that one the other day. Then there was the robocall (ten times in one day!) advising me that my Social Security number has been suspended and just call this number to straighten it out and blah, blah, blah...

No thanks. I don't have time for that kind of nonsense.

"Very few legitimate companies still make cold telemarketing calls"

I think it depends on your definition of "legitimate". I get plenty of calls from telemarketers, with real people on the line soliciting for local Solar power installers and HVAC contractors.

Keep in mind a few things. The Do Not Call system only applies to interstate calls from real solicitors located in the US. Of course foreign and in-state originating calls aren't covered. Calls from charities aren't covered. Political fundraising calls aren't covered. Survey takers aren't covered. I'm not annoyed by any but repeated calls from political parties, from the Benevolent Associations of Police Officers and something similar from Fire Fighters, and from the American Cancer or Breast Cancer orgs, come close.

Those who have trouble dealing with unwanted calls and want help can subscribe to any of several phone providers or services who do a good job, using both numbers you submit and those submitted by others.

I am still stuck on your seemingly interest and concern that it took a few days to connect with them!! And then to stay on the line through several transfers??!! I would not have ever answered their call but for sure would not hang on while they transferred me around. You must really feel you could benefit from a car warranty and I get that but #1 rule when it sounds too good to be true IT IS.

I got a recording the other day that said my "Apple product" had some kind of a problem. I wanted to say, "Oh, no! Is it my Granny Smith or Red Delicious?!" but I didn't have time to play, so I just hung up.

I agree with Dawn - not answering your phone or door at your discretion generally has little to do with "fear of bad guys" at all!!

I never answer my phone directly unless I know the caller. And I use my phone for business purposes as well. I can get any number of spam or robo calls daily that I can't be bothered with. The kicker is they seldom ever leave a voice message, whereas my legitimate business callers always do. There can be any number of reasons why I am not able to answer my phone directly, like in the middle of a client meeting, so allowing calls to go to voice mail is NBD. It has nothing at all to do with fear - it is just practicality!!

And as a single person living alone, I never answer my door unless I am expecting someone. I am unaware that there was any requirement compelling me to answer the door if I didn't feel like it........

You know, it sounds to me like the both of you are intimidated by a ringing phone. It's your choice but that's too bad.

Bwaaaahahahahaha! Elmer, you're such a hoot!

I think that most of us here know that what this thread has now been reduced to is your insatiable need to always have the last word. Go ahead, I don't have that need. It'll be interesting to see what you come up with next.

Not intimidated at all.....just can't be bothered by it. Unlike some, I am not tethered to my phone and do not feel any need to answer it the moment it rings. And why is it "too bad" if I don't care to answer it directly and allow it to go to voice mail?? No skin off your nose!!

btw, the entire point of having caller ID is so that one can filter phone calls with option of answering only those you recognize..........I am not Pavlova's dog and must answer my personal phone simply because it is ringing!

Elmer, you must live in a very narrow world to have some of these frankly bizarre notions.

While I disagree with Elmer about a lot of things I have to agree with him on this. There is a difference between not answering the phone because it is inconvenient and not answering because it is not a number you recognize. The second sound like the fear of the unknown.

Lol!! This discussion has now moved on to the preposterous!! If "fear of the unknown" translates into not wanting to answer an unidentified, unsolicited, unwanted and bothersome phone call, then I guess you are right :-) Personally I consider not answering just a better use of my time and attention.

You know, making assumptions about people doesn't usually turn out well.

I've spent most of the last three days at the top of a 12 foot ladder with a paint can in one hand and a paint brush in the other painting my bathroom. I've lost count of how many times the phone has rung during that time. Every single one of those calls has been a robocall or a telemarketer. I suppose that if I don't run up and down the ladder and rush to answer the phone, I'm intimidated and afraid of the unknown? What does intimidate me is the ladder. I'm afraid off falling off of it, potentially injuring myself and spilling paint all over while trying to answer the incessantly ringing phone. The phone - nah, it doesn't intimidate or scare me one little bit.

And, with that, I'm out - I have painting to do. The bathroom is going to be lovely when finished.

When 95+% of all the calls one receives are telemarketing calls, I'd say that not answering is not "fear of the unknown" but rather a learning process. Duh.

"When 95+% of all the calls one receives are telemarketing calls, I'd say that not answering is not "fear of the unknown" but rather a learning process. "

Yes, and what should be learned at that high a percentage is that what's needed is a phone service or software/app that blocks such calls. They're available and not all that expensive. In fact, some are cheaper than what many pay for regular phone service.

Dawn, your comment is a non sequitur. So you're saying that when you're not on a ladder or not doing something else that's physically non-interruptible, you answer the phone when it rings? No, that's what I thought.

Don’t feed the trolls, Dawn. They live for that.

Elmer, by all means, dive for your phone whenever it rings. You are entitled to do so. Whats it to you if others dont want to be bothered by nonsense? If it's an important call from a legitimate caller (unlikely)they can leave a message, and the target of the call can decide whether or not to return the call and engage with the caller.

And the problem with the software/apps in question that you think can work magic and block all unwanted calls is that while most of them can effectively block robocallers or REPORTED scam numbers,they will allow real numbers that have been spoofed to go through. My number has been spoofed. Its not pleasant to get vulgar messages left for you because some jerk in India decided to use your number to trick someone into answering their phone to harass and try to steal from them. And about 90 percent of unsolicited calls I get not only have the same area code as me, but the first 3 digits after the area code are the same as well. This is a technique, used by scammers to trick you into answering a call from an unfamiliar number. They make it look legitimate. The only way to combat that is to block them AFTER the call is made to your phone. And they are constantly spoofing new numbers,so by the time that number is reported enough to register in said apps/software,the scum have moved on to using a different one.And,as I said above, answering said calls will put you on a so called "sucker list",which will be sold to more companies,both real and fake,thus making the problem worse.

Its Sunday. I awoke this afternoon to find 8 missed calls, no voicemails from numbers that are similar to my own but none I know. I am grateful for do not disturb so that I am not bothered by scammers and telemarketers throughout my life. I keep that setting on at all times,so that only calls from people in my contacts list will ring. The rest are silent,and I can screen and decide what to do about them at my leisure. (spoiler alert: BLOCK) I use the Verizon caller ID app to screen and block numbers. I used to use privacy star, but it started to block every call out of the blue,even those in my contact list, and I couldn't get a resolution, so I cancelled that subscription.

The lack of desire to spend any part of precious life talking to or being annoyed by unsolicited calls is "fear of the unknown" now? Quite a stretch,but whatever. Hey, is that your phone ringing? Better answer it, wouldn't want to miss that warning about that warrant out for your arrest unless you send them an iTunes gift card,or that offer for a free security system, or the car warranty, or the time sensitive offer to reduce your credit card interest. Be sure to have your card number ready when you answer.......

amylou, the choices of reaction to a ringing phone are not limited to either diving for a ringing phone or running into a closet and closing the door. I do neither, there's a great middle ground. Your experiences and those of others are not new information nor are they any different from mine. What's different is how I and many others deal with them in other than a passive or intimidated or short-tempered way. That's where my comments were directed.

Is there a limit on how many times in a day you can roll your eyes before they stick like that?

Asking for a friend......

In reading some of the comments here, I haven't found there to be such a limit.

Loved the OP's reporting of the phone call: "...His response: NO DEAL from his end - and good luck when your expensive engine computer goes south..."

I can hardly wait to find out if the scammers update their dialogue when they call in a few years to sell me an extended warranty. There's 20+ computer chips in my 2018 SUV, lol.

Unless I recognize a phone # I just let it go to voicemail. The first 2 seconds of replay tell you if it's legit, so even if the blocking software misses it, the vmail is fast to delete.

That's like people who get quiet to pretend no one is home when there's a knock or a ringing doorbell. In some neighborhoods, fine, but for most, it's allowing the innocent nothings in their world to needlessly trigger fear.

I am not in fear of the siding salesmen ringing my doorbell. I do not "pretend" I am not home. When they see me, I simply wave them away. I have things to do and I am saving both of us time!

I tell them I drive a Tesla. they have no idea what to say next.

littlebug, you are absolutely right and I know better than to take the bait and allow myself to be sucked into the black hole. I'll give myself a wrist slap for my lapse. ;-)

That's a good one, Elizabeth!

Some of the bait is tried and true debate tricks from people who may have taken debate in high school. Frequently seen here are straw man tactics which work well unless one watches for them. But that sort of debate with its tricks and tactics is not engaged in for the positive purpose of sharing to learn more about one another, it is done to win so the winner can feel superior. Bravo littlebug for saying something.

I try to offer alternative and usually common sense views. Sometimes people can be closed-minded when hearing someone saying something that differs from their own opinions, and may even be offended to learn that someone doesn't agree with them or questions them. One reaction is to disparage the source. That's fine, but too bad for those who do.

That may be what your intention, Elmer, but it often does not come across that way. For example, this :

Anyone who wants to is welcome to feel threatened, intimidated and worried and to get upset about these non-risks. Some need to by inclination or from lacking enough substantive things to do to pass their days.

What you are failing to understand is this forum is meant to be a friendly conversation area. Often posters are not looking for answers or explanations, but rather just relaying what happened in their day.

Your style is seen more commonly in the Hot Topics forum.

Just to add my personal experience with conversations. My now-departed Mother-in-Law used to call me up and tell me her problems. Most were pretty easily solvable. I would run down a list of things she could do to solve the problem of the day, we would hang up, and a few days later she would call and complain about the same thing.

It took me a very long time to realize that she just wanted to talk, and complaining was the only way she knew how to converse. She didn't want to solve her problems. She was happy in her world. After many experiences of banging my head against the wall, I gave up and just listened and sympathized. That's all she wanted.

So my advice for you, Elmer, is this: know your audience.

By the way, the Do Not Call registry is not limited to only interstate calls. In-state businesses (with the known exceptions of calling a previous customer or one who has given permission (sometime unwittingly by entering a contest), a charity, political, polling, informational, and debt collection) are also forbidden to call registered numbers.

But the crooks don't care about Do Not Call Lists. Period.

raee, you have some misinformation. This is from the FTC website, as I'd mentioned above:

"If I register my number, will ALL unwanted calls stop?

No, the Do Not Call Registry prohibits sales calls. You still may receive political calls, charitable calls, debt collection calls, informational calls, and telephone survey calls."

Also as I stated above, somewhere I read said the feds have no jurisdiction over interstate (within one state) calls.

The Do Not Call Registry is a dismal failure. Telemarketers have 30 days to comply with the list. They simply get new phone numbers before the 30 days are up. It would take more time than I care to invest to answer each call, report the details to the DNCR and then block it. I glance at the CallerID and just ignore them.

I do too and my car is a '96! maybe I should ask to take it in for whatever it covers under their warranty?