How to spot a locksmith scam

How it works

The pattern has been described the same way for years. The FTC warned in 2008 that some locksmiths listed in local directories "may not be local." The BBB says scammers copy a real locksmith's name, answer the phone with a generic greeting, quote as little as $15, then add fees on site, often insisting on drilling and selling an expensive replacement lock. In 2014 the Ohio Attorney General sued a locksmith advertising network whose callers were often told picking a lock would cost $19.

Search listings are part of the problem. Google has sued a locksmith operator over fake Maps listings and reported removing 10,000 fraudulent listings, mostly service businesses such as locksmiths and towing, according to Locksmith Ledger. Google also requires locksmith advertisers in the US to pass Advanced Verification before running ads.

It has happened here

In 2010 WRAL ran a hidden-camera investigation in the Raleigh area. One homeowner was quoted $35 to get back in; her locks were drilled and the bill went past $400. Another customer was quoted $29 and charged $334. Raleigh police arrested both men that July for working without a state license, and the Attorney General sued three companies operating under multiple names. The North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board still warns that "bait and switch" locksmiths are active throughout the state.

Before you call

• Save a locksmith's number now, before you need it. The FTC's own advice.
• Be wary of a listing with no street address, or one that shares an address with another business.
• When they answer, ask for the business's legal name and North Carolina license number. "Locksmith services" is not a name.
• Look the name up on the board's Verify License page. How.
• Ask for one total that covers everything, trip included. Write it down.

When they arrive

• The vehicle should be marked with the same business name. ALOA says to look for a logo that can't be peeled off.
• Ask to see their board ID card; licensed locksmiths must have it available while they work.
• Expect them to ask for your ID and proof you live there. Be more worried if they don't.
• If the price is now higher, you can say no. The BBB says to find someone else.
• If they want to drill a standard lock right away, ask why. ALOA: "If they immediately go to drilling, this is often a sign of a scammer."
• Don't sign a blank form.

After the job

• Get an itemized invoice with the business name and address.
• Pay by card, not cash, so you can dispute it.
• If something was wrong, dispute the charge, then file with the locksmith board and the North Carolina Attorney General (1-877-566-7226).

What we ask of the locksmiths we refer

Raleigh Key Pros is a referral service. We ask every locksmith we pass a request to for a current North Carolina license, a real business name, the total price before work starts, an ID check, and non-destructive entry first. If a locksmith we sent falls short, call us at (984) 342-3191.