Have you arrived home exhausted from work, looking forward to watching your favorite show but then you suddenly find out you do not have your keys with you? It can cause quite a panic. You might quickly run back to your car or retrace your steps to see whether you have dropped your keys along the way.
Unfortunately, lost keys sometimes stay lost, leaving the owners trapped outside of their homes. In these situations, some might head online to look for a locksmith and find someone who can do the job for a mere $5. But more often than not, these services are nothing more than a scam.
Locksmith scams are surprisingly prevalent in the industry, and there are many people out there who falsely advertise their locksmithing expertise to make money out of unknowing customers. To ensure you do not fall victim to one of these scams, we will talk about some of the common scams you may encounter when looking for a locksmith.
1. Identity scams
While it might seem like identity scams only exist in the world of movies, they do exist in the real world as well. In locksmithing, scammers generally carry out the service and charge you normally. Unbeknownst to you, they have already secretly stolen some of your personal information, such as your credit card details and the like. They can use your stolen information for their gain or sell it to someone else.
2. Cash-only scams
While it might not seem too out of place for a locksmith to ask for cash only, it should be a big red flag for you. That is because when you do discover that the “fix” is not a fix, you will not be able to ask for a refund later on if you had paid them by cash. In short, they will have gotten away with your money, and you would not be able to do anything about it.
3. Low-price scams
As mentioned in the introduction, low-priced locksmiths are, more often than not, too good to be true. They will advertise a low price for their services in many cases. Once they complete the job, they then charge you much more. This is a nasty surprise you do not want to face.
4. Replacement scams
Some locksmiths may tell you that your lock is not unpickable and that the only way to get into the home is to break the doorknob. This is not always true. In many cases, once a locksmith breaks your doorknob off, they will recommend that you replace it with one of theirs, which can easily cost a lot more than what you can buy in the market.
Conclusion
These scammers are more common than you think. If you are not safe, there is a good chance that you will be scammed. Fortunately, there are a few ways to determine whether a locksmith is legitimate or bogus.
For example, you can pay attention to warning signs like too-good-to-be-true prices or a locksmith who shows up without a uniform. By watching out for these signs and asking plenty of questions, you can find out whether a locksmith is worthy of your trust.
That being said, if you find yourself in this situation, try to be calm. If you panic, you are at a much higher risk of making a wrong decision and exposing yourself to a scam.Allied Lock and Door is a locksmithing company specializing in door repair, access control, and more. If you are looking for a professional locksmith in Cincinnati, contact us right away!