Locksmith Scammers Are More Common Than You Think…
Much like Pennywise, the evil clown of Stephen King’s It, locksmith scammers know that the best time to attack prey is when they’re good ‘n scared. And what’s scarier than losing your car keys?
Perhaps you’ve been there: you’ve got a day chock-full of appointments ahead, you’ve checked the house over at least a hundred times now – you’ve even checked the freezer, because, why not – but your car keys are nowhere to be found. You do what every sensible modern person does when they encounter a problem nowadays: you Google it.
You are inundated with a thousand different options, all claiming to be in your area, all claiming to be 24/7 security professionals; but how can you tell the good from the bad? How can you tell who is legit and who is decidedly not? There are plenty of good resources out there telling you how to avoid phishing scams and the like, but here are a few tips from a professional locksmith to help you distinguish between a legitimate locksmith and a wolf in a locksmith’s advertising (a locksmith scammer).
Pay attention to…
Their Questions
If you’ve lost all of your car keys and are looking for a new one, one of the very first questions a legitimate locksmith will ask you is about the ownership of the vehicle. I know the last thing you want to be doing when you lost your car keys is be asked a million questions that seem, to you, irrelevant and unhelpful, but if the locksmith is trying to show up as soon as possible without any information on the work he is about to do, you can guarantee that you’re dealing with a locksmith scammer.
Make sure that they care about following the law and be patient as they help guide you to a new set of keys and get you back on the road!
Their Answers
Generally, locksmiths should have no problem answering the questions you have regarding the job. If they seem overly impatient with or outright refuse to answer your questions, that’s a bad sign.
Perhaps the most important question for you to ask about is the price; if they cannot or will not give you a quote on the job (or at least give a range if it’s a more difficult and variable job like an ignition change, a European vehicle, or, for certain vehicles, if the alarm is active) before showing up, you can guarantee you’re dealing with a locksmith scammer. A good locksmith will be patient with your questions and provide the clear answers you need.
Their Internet Presence
Once you’ve found yourself a locksmith in your area, take another moment and use that favorite tool of the modern man once again: Google them. Do they have a well-rounded internet presence? Do they have reviews across a variety of platforms (Google, Facebook, Yelp)? Do they have an active website? All of these are good indicators that they are a legitimate business operating with a good reputation in your area.
Don’t compound a bad lost-key situation with the pain of dealing with a locksmith scammer: do your research and find a reputable security professional who can have you safely back on the road, like South Shore Lock & Key! We provide same-day service Monday to Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM and after-hours, emergency service 24/7 as well. Give us a call when you lose your car keys. Or, save yourself time and money by using this bonus tip: call us for a duplicate set of keys today and avoid the whole mess!
