What You Should Know About Locksmith Scams

How Scammers Operate

The age of the internet has its benefits and drawbacks. It allows you to reach and contact many more people than you otherwise would be able to. However, it is difficult to verify these people. A lot of physical storefronts have been replaced by virtual storefronts, or webpages. Scammers generally will not have an actual physical location. Instead, they thrive off of the anonymity of webpages. They will put together a simple webpage and fill it up with content and prices that are abnormally low. This low pricing is their bait.

They will have a telephone number available, but this number can be linked to a throwaway phone. When you call them, they will usually not give you the name of an actual business, instead referring to themselves as "locksmith" or something generic. Finally, when the scammer arrives, their vehicle will likely be unmarked, and they will most likely not have a uniform.

When they get to your location, they will inspect the situation and likely hike the price of their service after giving you some reason. If you refuse the service, they will ask you for a dispatch fee. Even getting the service can be risky as they might damage and make your lock vulnerable.

What to Do

We know that emergencies can get your heart racing, but if you want to avoid getting scammed, then we urge you to calm down and be mindful. If you are going to hire a nearby local locksmith you have never worked with before, then be sure to research them before calling them over. Reverse search their phone number and business name on a search engine to see if any others have dealt with them. Read any reviews you find online and avoid any locksmiths that do not have reviews.

If you have been scammed by a fake locksmith, you can report them to the Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission, Internet Crime Complaint Center, the state's Attorney General's office, and/or your credit card provider if you paid with a card.

Consider GreenPro Locksmith

If you need a reliable locksmith in the Metro Atlanta area, then choose GreenPro Locksmith. We are a registered and licensed locksmith in Atlanta, and we invite you to read some of our customer reviews before calling. Our live representatives are available around the clock so do not hesitate to call.