Being locked out is probably one of the most irritating situations that you can experience. And it gets even more frustrating if it happens in the middle of the night.
Such stressful and embarrassing situation requires the service of a locksmith, but if you don’t pay too much attention then might be missing out on telltale signs of a locksmith scam in the state of Texas.
So if you don’t want to be a victim, we advise you to continue reading this article as we are going to tackle the keys in booking a reliable locksmith and avoid being compromised in a situation of being preyed upon by scammers.
Anatomy Of A Locksmith Scam
Locksmith scams are happening during emergency situations because the victim is in a state of disorientation. In short, the person who is locked out feels vulnerable and can’t think straight. And this is where scammers usually exploit your weakness.
Frauds involving locked out are believed to be organized by criminals. In fact, it is included in the top 10 list of the fastest-growing scams in the country today.
So take a look at the anatomy of a locksmith scam and see how these criminals operate to force you to pay more than what you’re supposed to:
- The person gets locked outside of his house or car and then hurriedly looks for a locksmith to solve the issue.
- The victim will book an unlicensed locksmith to do the job, but is not aware that the locksmith will grossly charge him (say $1500 for a job that only cost $150) after the job is completed.
- The victim will obviously refuse to pay the excessive amount, and then the phony locksmith will resort to bullying tactics (not returning the credit card of the victim or calling the police).
- The victim is then forced to pay as a result to avoid hassle and scandal.
What Are The Things You Need To Consider When Booking A Locksmith?
Not being careful with choosing a dependable locksmith can lead to severe consequences as:
- It can compromise the security of your property.
- Botched jobs done by fake locksmiths can cost more to replace.
- Phony locksmiths can be criminals because they haven’t gone through background checks. So you’re effectively “handing the keys” to your car or home to criminals.
So here are the key things you need to consider when choosing a reliable locksmith:
- Before booking, make sure to do a background check by checking out their website and if they are accredited by governing bodies like ALOA. You can also look into Google and other listings for reviews to establish their credibility.
- When calling, ask their physical address and if they have a locksmith license or even the registration of their business. If you’re not satisfied with the answers, then look for someone else.
- Ask for an estimate about the service you want to avail. And don’t be fooled if they will offer you a very low price than what is expected as this is a sure sign of a scam.
- And finally, ask the dispatched technician to show their ID and certification and don’t hesitate to request for a proper estimate first before they start working on your lockout issue.
And these the keys you need to remember in booking a reliable locksmith. If you’re looking for a 24/7 locksmith in Dallas, you can contact SOS Locksmith today. Just click on the link to send them a message.