| Each day, up to 250,000 Americans make emergency calls to locksmiths. Only one is for an actual locksmith; the others may be scammers waiting to get your call. The prevalence of fraudulent locksmiths is "a scam that is only growing," says Jim Hancock of the Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), whose 6,000 members must pass background checks. Those states are Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Besides the thousands of honest pros (who generally charge about $100 to pick a lock), there are various more rip-off artists. Get a written quote on company letterhead, with mileage charges, minimums and other fees, before any work begins. If you're told the lock has to be drilled and replaced, find another locksmith. "The overwhelming majority of locksmiths with an 800 contact number are not legitimate," says Hancock. Avoid any firm that answers the telephone with a generic phrase such as "locksmith services" instead of with a specific company name. In reality, those addresses are for a dry cleaner and four restaurants. A few states away, within a three-mile radius of my home, 12 locksmiths are listed online. In reality, the pro arrives in a van with no fixed address and a scam in mind. "The fraudsters usually say they can't open the door and need to drill or break off the lock and fit a replacement," says Hancock. Ask for an ID with name and address. ) Only 14 states (and some cities) require that on all service calls locksmiths carry proof that they are licensed. (Maryland has adopted, but not yet implemented, licensing. Typically, you're attached to a call center. Here are some tips to help you protect yourself - and your door: First, find a reputable locksmith before you need one. , the telephone directory lists five locksmiths on the same street. |
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Locksmith Scams on the Rise
