In times of crisis, such as when dealing with a lost house key or a car lockout, the last thing on your mind is the chance of becoming a con artist victim while looking for an emergency locksmith service near you. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous individuals who are ready to take advantage of your situation with well-thought-out scams during these vulnerable moments.
You must equip yourself with knowledge to protect yourself from falling victim to these practices. Keep reading to learn how to differentiate between legitimate locksmiths and scammers, ensuring you won’t end up as another entry in their playbook.
Don’t Let Fraudsters Make a Bad Situation Worse
One of the main reasons locksmith scams are successful is that no one takes the time to learn how these scams work until they personally experience them. Accordingly, very few people know what red flags to pay attention to. Here is a quick compilation of the most common locksmith scams to be aware of:
Deceptive Bait-and-Switch Tactics
Many of these scammers are opportunists who employ bait-and-switch tactics to mislead people and extract money from them. You’re given a specific price for unlocking your door when you call their emergency number. However, once the job is completed, they spring exorbitant fees on you, often camouflaging them as unexpected service charges or material costs.
Inexperienced Locksmiths or Impersonators
Certain scams involve untrained or entirely inexperienced individuals, frequently posing as legitimate locksmiths. These impersonators can damage your keys and locks, mishandle other security installations, and leave you to deal with the aftermath.
Key Replication Scams
Some scammers resort to deliberate property damage, such as lock drilling, while posing as locksmiths. Their objective is to gain access to your property. Subsequently, they install a new lock but withhold duplicates of your new key, granting them unrestricted access to your premises.
Essential Checks Before Calling a Locksmith
Verify Their Listed Address
You must be 100% certain the locksmith you want to call is running a legitimate business. Explore their website and look for the listed physical address of their company or shop. Shady locksmiths will skip this step. If you can’t find a professional address on their social media pages or a dedicated website, look for a different service.
Customer Reviews Matter
The quickest means of verifying the trustworthiness and reputation of any locksmith is by looking at honest reviews written by their past customers. Coming across dozens of one-star and two-star reviews and scrolling through dissatisfied customers are strong indicators that you are about to meet up with a scammer.
Beware of Extra Charges
If their site does not mention a service fee and the possibility of being charged additionally for various services, extra mileage, weekend or national holiday calls, or unexpected problems revealed on-site, consider it a red flag.
Credit Card Payments
Fraudsters often try to persuade you to pay in cash and strip you of the opportunity to pay via card. This way, they will leave you without recourse. only hire locksmiths who accept credit cards, so you have a better chance to contest any crazy charges.
When the Locksmith Arrives: Verify Their Legitimacy
Following the arrival of the locksmith, you should continue to check whether they are legitimate by performing the following steps:
Examine Their Van
If it’s not properly marked with the name of their company and overall looks suspicious to you, you are probably dealing with a scammer. Most fraudster locksmiths will falsely advertise themselves as being associated with reputable companies.
Request Locksmith ID and Licensing
If you live in a state where locksmiths must carry a license, you could ask for proof of the said document. You should also respectfully ask the technician reaching your address to show you their locksmith ID and provide you with their full name and address so you can check if they are an ALOA member in the US.
Demand a Written Estimate
Ensure you receive a written estimate for the full pricing of their services. This helps you avoid surprises upon completion. Verify that the written estimate matches any initial phone quotes, and contact their main office if there are significant discrepancies.
Beware of Unrealistic Claims
Be cautious if the locksmith suggests extreme measures like drilling locks, breaking windows, or damaging doors to gain access, only to present a costly alternative. Such tactics are common in scams and should be met with skepticism.
Final Thoughts
When faced with situations requiring emergency locksmith services, the worst-case scenario is becoming a victim of fraud. Opportunistic people are around, eager to take advantage of vulnerable situations. It is critical to stay aware and alert to protect your safety. Familiarize yourself with common locksmith frauds, conduct essential pre-locksmith call checks, and confirm their validity upon arrival. Remember, your best defense against potential fraud is to be aware and prepared. Equip yourself with knowledge to ensure your safety and peace of mind in a locksmith emergency.
Stay updated with all the insights.
Navigate news, 1 email day.
Subscribe to Qrius
