There are several scammers out there who are looking for unsuspecting individuals to defraud. Fear not, this is not to scare you. Rather, you need to know how to detect a fraud from a mile away.
You could lock yourself out of your car or house and urgently need a locksmith. However, you need to be careful and not fall for the locksmith scams out there. Some locksmiths that would pop up in an online search could be fake and you wouldn’t want to be at their mercy.
Look for a Verifiable Physical Address
Verify the physical address you find on the locksmith’s website. You need to be certain that the address is real, and the locksmith operates from that address. Where there is no match between the address and the company, it is a pointer that the locksmith is a scam.
Check Out the Reviews
The reviews of the locksmith are great ways to tell if the locksmith is a scammer or not. When the locksmith has low ratings, it shows that the services did not satisfy the customers’ expectations.
Request For Information About Hidden Charges
Ensure that the locksmith discloses all hidden charges upfront. It will help you avoid surprises that the locksmith will want to spring up on you when the work is in progress. Let the locksmith put all the charges in writing and should spell out all that you have to pay.
Charges Are Too Good to be True
When a locksmith offers you a price that is too good to be true, that’s a red flag. Although you might look for a good bargain for the service, a ridiculously low price could be a catch for these locksmith scams.
When they come and assess the work, they introduce extra charges that were not part of the original arrangement. Since you desperately need their services, they know you will end up accepting all the extra charges.
Do They Arrive in Marked Vehicles?
Most locksmith scams come in unmarked vehicles. They do this to avoid tracing. The scammer would not wear a uniform nor carry an ID on him. Reputable locksmiths usually come in vehicles that have their brand clearly marked on them.
A fraudulent locksmith would also demand that his payment should be in cash or debit. He avoids credit card payment. It is because you can trace credit card payments easily.
Request For Identification
Always ask the locksmith to identify himself. Look at the ID he provides and ensure that there is a name and address on it. If your state provides that locksmiths should have a license, demand to see the locksmith’s license before any work.
Hire a Reputable Locksmith
You need a locksmith that you can trust, especially one close to you. The best practice is to find a reputable locksmith and save his number before the need would arise.
The essence of this is because you might not have enough time to verify the authenticity of a locksmith in the face of a lock emergency, where you would need the service urgently. Get a reputable and reliable locksmith in Phoenix, Arizona for your future lock emergency.