It’s an unfortunate reality of the world we live in today – scams of all kinds are prevalent across all industries and there are no signs of them slowing down any time soon. These thieves prey on the vulnerable population and look for opportune times when people may have their guard down or are too distracted and steal their private information to perpetrate attacks like identity theft, financial theft, insurance fraud, and others.
While there’s no way to know exactly when a scammer will strike, the good news is that having your defenses up and knowing what to look for can save you lots of valuable time and money.
When it comes to locksmith scams – here’s what you need to know for 2021.
The thing about needing a locksmith at all is that you’re already probably in the middle of an emergency and desperate for help. Here’s the first chance for scammers to make their move.
Instead of quickly panicking when you have a lock emergency like if you lock your keys in the car or suddenly realize your key has broken inside your lock, take the time to calmly call a locksmith who you’ve either used before, is recommended by a friend or who you’ve had the chance to at least look at reviews or the BBB profile for.
It’s far too easy to pick the first number that comes up or that looks like it will be the cheapest and then fall victim to a locksmith scam.
Spotting Locksmith Scams in 2021
In 2021, there have been targeted website ads showing up in search results pages that even lead victims to what looks like a credible website. These fake sites are complete with information about their services but really it’s just a front for a fake locksmith that is only interested in getting your information for financial gain.
Be sure to spot these imposters early. Never go with the first ad you see with the cheapest rate without investigating further. Look into the company first. Be sure it looks credible and if you call the 1800 number listen to how they answer the phone. If the rep responds without stating the name of the company you saw online, and they leave it vague to just “locksmith” then this could be the first sign of a problem.
Another scam that happens is that an inexperienced locksmith contracted from a call center afar like India is dispatched out to your location and they will either raise the original quoted price for the service citing something else is wrong, ask for cash payment only, or they will do a poor job and end up breaking more than fixing.
Whenever a locksmith arrives at your location, be sure to ask for ID, get a copy of your receipt and hold them to their original quote.
All United Locksmith has been servicing locks for residential and commercial customers across the state of Connecticut for over a decade. Our technicians are fully licensed, insured, and bonded locksmiths.
