Auto Warranty Robocall Scammers Busted 358
ectotherm writes "The nice people behind the recorded phone messages stating 'By now you should have received your written note regarding your vehicle warranty expiring...' — the ones who instantly hang up when you ask for the name of the company — have been busted. Fox News did a little background digging on the four people charged." Don't know about you, but I received three or four postcards in the mail from these scammers, as well as uncountable robocalls. The FTC says they cleared $10M since 2007.
The only robot call I got (Score:5, Funny)
Asked if I had seen a .. Sandra O'Connor... or something like that. I forget.
Re:My call... (Score:5, Funny)
My first two went like that. Then I tried keeping them on the line as LONG as possible.
The operators they got were some quick talkers. I raised a very very specific issue with my car and he knew about ALL of them. He knew other people asked about that exact same thing. You also had to know the right buzz words (75k miles. 2-4 years old, etc).
After I got past level 1 I started giving them VINs from stuff I found on Auto Trader. It was a crap shoot on how long I lasted after that.
Why can't the greedy crooks ever learn.... (Score:3, Funny)
Knew it was a scam very quickly (Score:5, Funny)
It was kinda obvious to me that this was a scam when they told me my warranty for the car was due to expire soon.
I don't have a car.
Fox news?! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:And the new scam de jour.... (Score:5, Funny)
That's no scammer, that's your local Democratic representative.
Re:Knew it was a scam very quickly (Score:4, Funny)
If that's a typo, it's certainly one of the most apt ones I've ever seen.
I love scammers..they're so much entertainment. (Score:5, Funny)
I had this one company rep call me about how I had won 12 free magazine subscriptions for free - yes, that's right! FREE!. Made some 10 minute spiel about how wonderful it all was. All I needed to do was send $12.95 for some processing fee and I'd get my free, yes FREE! magazines.
I asked her, "If I won and my subscriptions are free why do I have to pay $12.95?"
To her credit, she replied, "Because they're free!" (Can't blame a girl for trying.)
Soooo, I reiterated my question a few more times until she hung up on me.
It feels good when I frustrate scammers at their own game. :P
Re:The only robot call I got (Score:5, Funny)
Re:The only robot call I got (Score:1, Funny)
What a day that was!
Re:Knew it was a scam very quickly (Score:5, Funny)
It was kinda obvious to me that this was a scam when they told me my warranty for the car was due to expire soon.
I don't have a car.
Okay, smartypants, if you don't have a car, how do you know when its warranty expires?
I don't worry about warranties on my cars... (Score:5, Funny)
I always take my car in for service at the dealership. I just trade for a new car when the mechanics there tell me it's time to replace the blinker fluid. The mechanics let me in on the auto industry secret that once that happens, it's only a matter of time before everything starts breaking down. It's saved me a lotta hassle. Sure, it's more expensive, but this is one of those instances where you get what you pay for.
Re:Knew it was a scam very quickly (Score:4, Funny)
fry their brains.
Really? I'm not entirely sure there'd be much pleasure in it. Certainly, not enough pleasure anyway...
Re:I never got it... (Score:2, Funny)
That is really odd. I am assuming d*** is a censored damn, but if you're so concerned about damn, why did you not censor hell?
I mean Jesus fucking Christ!
Re:I don't worry about warranties on my cars... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Fox news?! (Score:1, Funny)
I'm so conflicted...
Liberal media will do that to a person.
Fox News actually reporting something that affects me in a positive way?
Feels good doesn't it? What a relief it is for you, I imagine, not to be lied to by the liberal media you've been watching. Good to know you've seen the light by paying attention to a reliable news source like Fox. There is hope for you yet.
I don't know how to feel!
Relief. Relief that you know you can get news without horrible liberal lies.
Re:I get the stupid post cards too (Score:3, Funny)
I have one better - I got a warranty card for my brother's car, shortly after I moved out-of-state. It was addressed to my new address, not forwarded.
I, on the other hand, only own a 1995 Bianchi hybrid with about 10,000 miles or so. Since it's a bicycle, I don't really feel the need to buy a car warranty for it.
Re:I get the stupid post cards too (Score:1, Funny)
None sequential twenties?
Re:They call, they call, they call (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I never got it... (Score:1, Funny)
You Americans amaze me - you let everyone see your Bush but totally freak out when a nipple is exposed.
Re:My call... (Score:5, Funny)
"Hello, what's the make of your vehicle?"
"May I ask who I'm speaking to?"
*click*
That's better treatment than I got! The one time they called that I wasn't too busy to just hang up, all I got (after sitting through the message and waiting for the "sales rep") was a bored
"Hello?*click*"
They hung up on me before I said anything, before they even made any type of pitch. They just KNEW I wasn't going to send them money.
Another time I was in a seminar class, only 5 people and the professor. We were waiting for one of the other students to show up, when a phone on the wall of the classroom, previously unnoticed, rang. We all looked at each other, then the professor, who looked back at us, just as confused. Thinking there was a greater than zero chance it was something like an emergency announcement or something important, I answered the phone...
Yes, the classroom's auto factory warranty had run out.
Re:Knew it was a scam very quickly (Score:3, Funny)
It was kinda obvious to me that this was a scam when they told me my warranty for the car was due to expire soon.
I don't have a car.
Okay, smartypants, if you don't have a car, how do you know when its warranty expires?
Moreover, why DON'T you have a car? Was it that the warranty expired and you couldn't afford to repair it?
Guess you should've taken the call.
Re:The only robot call I got (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I never got it... (Score:5, Funny)
I'm pretty sure you never tried asking them "So who do I make this check out to?".
...the Car Assurance Support Helpline of course. Just the initials will do.
Re:The Real Problem (The Phone Companies) (Score:5, Funny)
Or were they cingularly disinterested?
Re:My call... (Score:5, Funny)
"May I ask who I'm speaking to?"
*click*
Damn! They abandoned the scam just because you ended the sentence with a preposition?
Re:I don't worry about warranties on my cars... (Score:3, Funny)
Self Help Script..... (Score:3, Funny)
Feel free to embellish on this script when you have a little time to play with their minds. Most of the dialog is paraphrased.
Caller: Hello, Mr. _______. Our records show your auto warranty is soon to expire.
You: I wasn't aware of that.
Caller: Would you like to renew your warranty now?
You: I suppose I should if it's going to expire soon. What do you need, the VIN number?
Caller: Yes sir.
You: Hold on. The car is in the garage. I need to go there.
Caller: OK sir.
(wait about one or two minutes, or until they wonder where you are)
You: OK, I got my shoes on, now I can go out to the garage. It's a detached garage.
Caller: Great, sir.
(wait another one or two minutes, or until they get concerned again)
Caller: Sir?
You: Hold on, I'm unlocking the door to the garage now.
(Wait 15 to 30 seconds. Idle chat with them to keep them on the line)
You: Shoot. This is the shed key. It looks the same as the garage key. I always get them mixed up. Let me go get the garage key. I really want this warranty.
Caller: Very well, sir.
(Wait one to three minutes. Idle chat to keep on the line. Maybe pretend to talk about issues with your lawn, etc. as you "walk back" to get your key)
You: OK. That was the right key this time. I'm at the car.
(At this point you can try, but you may be pushing their patience, to say "The car key is in the house. Let me get it.")
You: OK. I can read the VIN at the windshield.
Caller: Go ahead, sir.
You: 1... W... G... K... N or M...
Caller: Which one is it sir, N or M?
You: It's tough to see in here. Let me go get a flashlight.
(You decide if your flashlight is near you in the garage or WAYYYY back in the house)
You: M... 3... 4... H... J... 4... 2... 6... 8... 2... 0....
You: Can you repeat that back for me?
Caller: That's OK sir. I can't find your vehicle. What is it?
You: It's a 1974 VW Super Beetle
Caller: Don't you have any newer cars?
You: Nope. This is my first car and it still runs great for me. (You may even want to say it's been handed down to you as your first car and it still runs well for you.)
Caller: I'm sorry sir, we can't help you at this time. We'll take you off our call list.
You: OK. Sorry about that.
Caller: **Click**, or "Have a good day sir."
I did the last six lines for one of them once and I never received another call from any auto warranty company. They apparently took me off their list when I convinced them I only had the Beetle.
Re:The only robot call I got (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Real Problem (The Phone Companies) (Score:5, Funny)
"Hi, your car analogy warranty has expired. Would you like to renew it?"
Re:Mind what you wish for (Score:4, Funny)
What I know about Obama, is that I had a job, when Bush was President.
Dick Cheney, is that you?