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What You Should Know About Locksmithing Scams

You’re locked out of your car, and what’s the first thing you do? Grab your smartphone and search for “emergency locksmith,” of course! In emergency situations, humans often tend to feel flustered, and that means we don’t always think as clearly as we normally would.

Unfortunately, emergency situations are the prime opportunity for scammers to strike. So what can you do to avoid being scammed when you’re in need of a locksmith? We’re breaking down everything you should know in today’s post, so keep reading to learn more, and if you’re looking for a local locksmith you can count on to do the job right, turn to Bill’s Lock and Key.

How Scammers Often Operate

In situations like the one above, illegitimate operations will often use your immediate need for help as an opportunity to take advantage of you. One way they do this is by paying for ads that appear at the top of your search.

Because you’re eager to get back into your car, you don’t search quite as carefully as you normally would.

For example, if you were in need of a plumber to install a new sink in your home, you might search for “best plumbers near me.” From there, you’d probably check out some websites, read reviews, and schedule a couple of estimates.

When you’re locked out of your car, it’s a different story. You need help fast, so you click on the first thing that promises you the assistance you need.

What to Expect From a Scammer

Let’s say you click on the top ad that shows up in your search. Is it always going to be a scam? Of course not, but it is something to be aware of. In this type of situation, you might click on an ad and place a call to a “locksmith” that promises their assistance. You tell them what’s going on, they give you a quote, and tell you to expect their arrival shortly.

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When they get to your location, it’s often in an unmarked vehicle — and the quote they provided is no longer valid for reasons x, y, and z. In other words, they know that you need help and the price just went up.

What happens if you refuse their service? They’ll remind you that you still have to pay a service charge or a trip fee. At that point, you know you’re going to have to pay them money even if they don’t do anything, so you agree to their service because you just want to get back into your car and get on with your day.

Although this is sometimes the end of the scam, other times you’re not as lucky. What we mean by that is that when these scams occur, the actual locksmithing is often done by amateurs who can easily damage your vehicle in the process of getting it unlocked. You can learn more about scammers and their illegitimate operations here.

The Albuquerque Locksmith You Can Trust

Thankfully, at Bill’s Lock and Key, we do things the right way. We’ve been a trusted name in the area since 1978, and whether you choose to work with us or a local competitor, it’s our mission to make sure you have the facts in order to avoid getting scammed by untrustworthy companies that are just looking to take advantage of your need for help.

When you choose to work with us, that’s not how we do things. We make your emergency our top priority in order to ensure that you get the assistance you deserve. Whether you are in need of a 24-hour locksmith to help with an emergency or you’ve made the decision to rekey your locks, you’re in need of a home safe, or you’d like an additional key fob for your vehicle, our team of experts would be glad to lend a hand.

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Contact Us Today

At the end of the day, we know that you have a choice about which locksmith you’ll choose — and we hope that you’ve found our information on what you should know about locksmithing scams helpful.

Have a question? Need our assistance? Don’t hesitate to contact us today to speak with the team at Bill’s Lock and Key. We look forward to hearing from you!