The postcards look like an important notice from your car dealer or automaker. There is always an eye-catching warning on the front such as "Final Notice: EXPIRING AUTO WARRANTY."

These postcards are going out by the truckload.

Many who receive them don't have a warranty that's about to expire, and some don't have a warranty at all. To get you to make the call, some of the cards even say your car has been recalled.

It's all just a gimmick to get you on the line so a salesperson can make his pitch and get you to buy an outrageously-priced extended car warranty.

And then there are the automated phone calls, at all hours of the day and night. Some people have been called at 4 a.m. -- a clear violation of federal regulation.

The calls also go to numbers on the national do-not-call registry, and they're going to cell phones. Again, all in violation of federal rules.

One of the automated calls ends with a recording telling the listener to press "1" to talk to a salesperson or press "2" to be taken off the list.

But when you push "2" you are not removed from the list and the calls will keep coming.

Most of the companies doing this are located near St. Louis, and the complaints are pouring in to the Better Business Bureau there.

Many of the complaints deal with deceptive advertising and high-pressure sales tactics. Unhappy customers say they could not cancel and get a refund despite promises from the salesperson.

And some people who buy the warranties find that they have trouble actually using them.

The attorney general in Missouri is investigating the allegations, and we should know in a few weeks if his office decides to take action.