This almost pulled hubby in this morning....

[slightlv]

Thankfully, his phone is broken and he didn't want to borrow mine until he asked. THIS IS A SCAM!!! But it looks so official and sounds so scary, it had him really shaking. He wanted to call the phone number immediately!

This presents itself as from: FANNIE MAE MORTGAGE

In all caps, it states: RESPONSE TO THE NOTICE REQUESTED

It states:

It is important you contact our office at (1-800-874-2394) upon receiving this notice to avoid any unnecessary delays in your coverage before 06/07/2024.

This notice is to inform you that you not have contacted us yet to get your Home Warranty up to date.
Please call immediately as this will be our final attempt to notify you about activating your Home Warranty.
Failure to call and prevent lapse of coverage could result in you being liable for all costs associated with any hope repairs.
(snip)
We reserve the right to revoke your eligibility for service coverage after the expiration date. (snip) Please respond immediately!
------------

That's the basics of the letter. I just skimmed it as Hubs handed it to me and told him it was obviously a scam. Showed him where, at top left corner it said "Home Warranty Division"... Fannie Mae has never been in the Home Warranty business. Plus, I reminded him we don't have a mortgage, thru Fannie Mae or anyone else. We own the house outright (other than taxes!). Also reminded him he turned down my suggestion we put a Home Warranty Service into the bid when we bought the house.

That calmed him down. But with the official-ness of the look of this letter... all spelling correct in the whole letter. Only a few weird capitalized letters here and there, it looked legit... especially the heading that said: 2024 -- FINAL NOTICE.

I hate these things scare him so bad. He's four years older than me, and a hell of a lot more trusting and naive than I am. To anyone hip to scams, this one is easy to spot. But just in case, wanted to let you all know the home warranty business is getting really pushy for business. If I ever get one of these idiots on the phone, I'm going to give them one hell of a piece of my mind!!! In fact, just for kicks, I may call this number and do just this... while also reporting them to the Better Business Bureau here in KS.

Stay alert and Frosty out there! All these multi-millionaires are getting concerned they're not going to get everything we own, now that T has run into so much trouble!

[Glorfindel]

1. I was expecting to see a photo of a really big fish.

I keep getting notices that my auto warranty has run out. I haven't owned a vehicle in several years, as I can no longer drive due to poor vision.

[ShazzieB]

5. I almost never answer calls from unknown numbers anymore.

Last edited Thu May 30, 2024, 11:39 PM - Edit history (1)

But if I did, I wish it would be someone telling me the auto warranty on my car was running out. I have planned exactly what I would say.

We have two cars, both purchased used, and neither of them has ever been under a warranty of any kind since we've owned them. The first thing I would say is "Which car?" If they tried to fish for information about which cars we have, I wouldn't tell them anything. I would say, "You said you're calling me about a warranty on my car. I have more than one car. Which one is it?" I figure they'd probably hang up pretty quickly, since they wouldn't have an answer, but if they didn't hang up, I'd probably mess with them until one of us got tired of it.

I just thought of another option, too. Instead of just asking which car, I could say, "Which one? Is it a Subaru Forrester or a Jeep Cherokee?" (Neither of which we own.) I'd bet money they'd pick one of the choices I gave them, and say (e.g.), "It's a Jeep Cherokee." To which I would reply, "Oh, that's odd. I don't have a Jeep Cherokee. I've never owned one of those," and then laugh my ass off when they hung up.

It'll probably never happen, since I don't usually answer those calls, but it's sure fun to imagine!

[slightlv]

6. This was an "official" notice

through the mail. This is what scared hubs, especially with Fannie Mae written so large and officially across it. Hmm.. wonder if they know they're being used like this?!

[ShazzieB]

7. I would guess they probably do know.

There's so much of this kind of stuff going on, and people do report at least some of it. I'm sure all of these governmental agencies that get their names used by scammers have people who keep track of this stuff. The problem is that there is such a HUGE amount of it, and I'd bet anything they don't have anywhere near the budget to go after more than a fraction of the weasels that pull these stunts. It really sucks, especially for people like your husband who are so vulnerable to these things.

[Phoenix61]

2. The last scam phone call I got threatened to cancel my SSN. 😂😂😂

[keithbvadu2]

3. My friend is getting Alzheimers and I have her accustomed to ignore phone calls from unknown numbers.

I am so afraid she could be talked into agreeing to many things.

[slightlv]

4. This is where I'm at with hubby, Keith.

He's got severe memory loss, tho not Alzheimer's. He's 72. and he's always been the most trusting man in the world. Being a woman, I've grown up naturally wary... cynical around people, especially men. But he is so naive and ready to help in any way he can to any sob story. Me... I'm that way just with critters.

This is what's made me so mad about this. He was in such a state when I got up. I just got him home 2 weeks ago from a major heart attack. He didn't need all that adrenaline and other stress hormones pumping through his system. My first and follow on thoughts are how DARE they do this to him! I want to bash someone's head in for these things. It's not just the danger to our bank account (tho we've got little enough in there... still it would hurt!). It's a danger to sparking a stroke or a heart attack in him, as well as just putting him through all that worry. He doesn't deserve it. And these people shouldn't be able to do it to anyone else, either.

I've got my Mom in a memory care home right now. I worry what's going to happen if I follow her side of the family? What if I really start losing MY marbles! How am I going to keep both me and hubs out of trouble?! It just seems like they're gunning for us. Something REALLY has to be done. I can only think of starting with my state. But we've got Kris Kobach as AG. He'll probably help them hone their letter so it doesn't seem so obvious to people like me! (grrr) But the BBB should probably have an office here, I'd think.

First, because they were SO careful NOT to mention WHICH Home Warranty company it is in this letter, I want to call and find out. Also get any more info that I can give to any PTB that would listen to me. I need a bone to chew for a while, anyway... anything else would probably get me in trouble with the cops! (LOL)