How to Spot a Locksmith Scammer and Find a Legitimate Service

When you're locked out of your car or home, it's important to make sure you're hiring a legitimate locksmith. It can be exhausting, annoying, and sometimes risky to verify the legitimacy of the locksmiths you're trying to contact. To avoid being scammed by a fake locksmith, it's important to do your research before hiring one. Look for the legitimate locksmith brand on the car, beware of suspiciously low prices, and check prices before work begins.

Do not allow the locksmith to pierce your lock. Locksmith scammers often advertise without an official business name or physical address.

You should always make sure that a locksmith service has both.

Most locksmiths have a way to receive a photo of the lock before sending someone to the scene. Since the Internet is the main way most people seek locksmith services, it's not surprising that so many people are victims of locksmith scams. When looking for reliable and professional locksmith services, be sure to check that the name of the company you are calling matches the name of the vehicle that appears.

Locksmiths are usually well aware of almost every type of lock on the market and have methods for repairing even high-security locks. Unbeknownst to the consumer who cannot access a vehicle or that they need help opening a lock, these locksmith scammers trust desperate consumers who need authentic and qualified locksmith services. Advertising fake locksmith companies is tempting, as they offer services at affordable prices and can also have an attractive image of a good store. However, this is rarely the case and you have to be wary of any locksmith whose first means of solving problems is to pierce a lock. When you use Google to find a locksmith, you might be surprised to learn that an alarming number of results could very well be ghost accounts. Another telltale sign that you've called a scammer is that they answer the phone with a generic greeting instead of the name of the company.

The interesting thing is that these ads rank high on search engines and their prices are more attractive than those of most surrounding locksmiths. The “locksmith” is usually late and will bill you hundreds of dollars more than they estimated after breaking the lock on your door. To ensure you're hiring a legitimate locksmith who will provide quality service at an affordable price, make sure they have an official business name and physical address, check their reviews online, and ask for proof of insurance. If you're still unsure about their legitimacy, ask for references from previous customers. By taking these steps, you can make sure you're not falling victim to a scammer when you need help with your lock.

Ashlee Treola
Ashlee Treola

Passionate beer trailblazer. Hipster-friendly bacon enthusiast. Amateur web fanatic. Lifelong zombie maven. Evil travel trailblazer. Lifelong zombie geek.