Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

Some may be legit, but others may be a ploy to steal your personal information as the person on the other end of the line offers to extend your auto warranty.

Police and others are urging the general public to use common sense when called by people claiming to be offering extended auto warranties.

Linda Bailey, Tyler Area Better Business Bureau director of trade practices, said her office has received hundreds of phone calls and e-mails regarding the growing number of calls and postcards showing up in mailboxes across the region.

"This is very widespread and is happening all over the country," she said. "Some of the warranty offers are legitimate, but they may not be what the consumer believes they are buying. Many are just attempts to gain your personal information for identity theft purposes."

Ms. Bailey said some of the extended warranties might be from real companies, but they may be worthless when attempting to get your car repaired

"There is the chance that the warranty you buy will not be honored where you take your car for repairs. You may have to pay for the repairs and then try to collect to recover your out of pocket expenses," she said.

Don Martin, Tyler Police Department public information officer, said consumers should talk to car dealers about extended warranties and not some person calling them cold.

"They need to go through the dealer they bought their car from and stay away from the people on the phone or on the Internet," he said. "I have had the calls and when I ask the person what kind of car do I have they hang up on me."

Martin suggested if someone has given out personal information and notices money missing or transactions being made on their checking, saving or credit card accounts, they should immediately file a police report.

Citizens have also called to report that people posing as car insurance representatives have told them that their bank draft did not go through and they need the information to make sure they have what they need to make sure insurance does not lapse.

Ms. Bailey offered her bit of advice when dealing with cold calls at your home, cell phone or work.

"The best thing to do when these people call is to just hang up. You have no idea who they are and they have called you and are asking you for some information not the other way around," she said. "You have to protect your personal information."