As scary as it may sound, Locksmith scams are becoming a part of our daily lives. Locksmiths target home and auto owners when they are at their most vulnerable state and in desperate need for help- in an emergency and needing immediate assistance.
Most of the times we feel that searching for a locksmith online is probably a smart decision. However, we could become a victim of fake or scamming locksmiths who are imitating legitimate ones on the online directories. The case is these fake locksmiths impersonate the local locksmiths and they don’t even have any local workshop. Sometimes these so-called locksmiths are not even properly trained and are operated through out-of-state call centers.
A few cautious steps taken by you can help in avoiding a scamming company or an untrained
1. “Local” is the Keyword
Do your research in advance. Take good time and do not rush with the search.
If a locksmith business is registered with a local address, Google the address and find out if any other business is registered with the same address.
Even if you are in an emergency, you should always be aware of the services that answer the phone with any generic phrase, such as “Welcome to locksmith services”. If the one you have called is unwilling to provide you a legal business name, you need to find another locksmith.
Also see if the companies are using any “800” number or a local number. “800” number can indicate that the locksmith you are calling could be an offshore call centre.
2. Check Identification and License
When the locksmith arrives at the destination it is important to ask for identification, including a locksmith license where one is applicable.
Out of all the states, only fifteen of them require lock