Locksmith Scams - Be advised |
Fraud and scamming are, unfortunately, part of he locksmith trade. The unbearable easiness in which anyone can advertise himself as "the best locksmith in the world" and then turn out to be nothing short of a low-life scamming thief is simply amazing. Most of the locksmith businesses are alright, but many aren't. There are a few questions you should ask any locksmith, that might help you find a true locksmith professional. Here are a few tips that will help you determine who's who.
Read stories below- |
| Use licensed locksmiths - Protect yourself |
Always use licensed locksmiths. If you have called a locksmith without asking for their license then ask them when they arrive.
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| Locksmith charged higher than what quoted on phone |
This is a story about an investigation revealing how a phony locksmith convinced customers with nominal rates over the phone, but then tried to charge a whole lot more.
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| College girl paid much more to unlicensed locksmiths |
This is a locksmith scam story posted by 20 years old college girl on consumerist.com. She locked herself out of the car. Her father came to break into the car but no results. She also called two locksmiths but no one replied. Finally she called a locksmith situated near her location. Their price quote on the phone was $39.99 + $19 service charge. They told her that they will be at her location in just 25-30 minutes. But they came after an hour.
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| Another story of locksmith fraud from denverpost.com |
I found another story about locksmith scam on www.denverpost.com. According to Joan Scott she locked herself out of her car while car engine was running. She searched for a locksmith on internet and found one locksmith who are offering services in just $35 and +$15 for a newer car model. She accepted their quote and called them. According to her, those locksmiths arrived in a unmarked truck and told her that the job will cost $134.
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| Court ordered to stop phony locksmiths |
Here is a brand new story. This time the phony locksmith scammer's try and have there way in North Carolina. Same methods of scam have been excessive here, a few questionable, un-licensed, thieving group of men presented them selves as bonafide professional locksmiths in a number of different "local" businesses. They post themselves under different names in different directories (yellowpages, Google maps and so on..). When the innocent person, in dire need of professional aid falls into their trap and calls them - they send out one of their scammer's, that performs his "services", which basically are damaging the door lock to the point where you just have to have it replaced, ask for ludicrous sums of money, and in cash! These guys do the classic locksmith-scam-routine, which seems to be very easy to do and get away with. At least this time, they got caught. I have to hand it out to Attorney General Roy Cooper, for bringing some justice to scammed customers, and legit locksmith businesses in the area.
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| Locksmith scams in Swampscott, MA |
Nikki Gamer on Locksmith scams and spams in Swampscott, MA.
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| Mike Blumenthal's post about locksmith scams |
Mike Blumenthal writes about locksmith scams in his wonderful blog. You'll find in his blog intelligent and relevant conversations on the topic of Google maps local business listings. Take a look or
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| Hijacked Google Maps listing |
Post about a google listing hijacked and information manipulated.
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| Locksmith scammer uncovered |
Locksmith scammer revealed
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| An article to prevent you from locksmith scams |
Read this article with tips to prevent yourself from falling to a locksmith scam.
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Tips to protect yourself from locksmith fraud |
» Real locksmiths have a license number, and have been approved by ALOA. Ask the locksmith to show you his license. If he mumbles anything about it being eaten by his parrot or something, show him the door.
» Ask the locksmith if he is bonded and insured. He's not? tell him to go away!
» Ask for an estimate before the job is done. Ask whether its free. That's important as any honorable locksmith business would always offer you free quotes.
» Does the business have a physical address? Some businesses don't even have that, which is a big tell on his professionalism.
» Pro locksmiths move around in custom vans. These will normally carry the name and logo of a real business, and be filled with all the tools and appliances a locksmith needs. If a locksmith turns up at your door, carrying nothing but a crooked smile and a run down screwdriver, send him away.
» Before any job is being done ask whether the job preformed is insured. If a lock replacement job is executed and the lock brakes down 3 days later - will it be immediately fixed, free of charge? decent businesses will give that assurance.
» Ask for an invoice. Always. Ask for it when you order the locksmith job, and if you are told they can't produce an invoice, or it'll be cheaper for you to get the job done without an invoice - hang up the phone.
» Do not trust advertisement, nor search engine positions. The top 10 results in Google for locksmith + location searches, those next to the map are packed with terrible spammish fraudulent locksmith businesses.
Don't take my word for it - browse through these posts in Google maps for business owners, reporting spam.
You'll find dozens of legit locksmith businesses complaining about Google's map results being filled with thieves and crooks.
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