When you find yourself locked out of your home or vehicle in Fayetteville, North Carolina, your first instinct is probably frustrated panic. These kinds of unexpected events throw a monkey wrench in your busy schedule. The immediate professional help of a skilled locksmith is the best way to get your day back on track. Understandably, you grab your phone and call on Google to find an available locksmith in your area who can help. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what unscrupulous scammers are counting on and they’re waiting to take advantage of you at your most vulnerable moment.
How They Work
Locksmith scammers have multiple methods, and the red flags can be easily overlooked at the height of your frustration. They often pay for ads to rank at the top of Google. It’s not even unusual for scammers to copy a legitimate local website and use the name of an accredited locksmith. They replace the phone number with a toll-free or long-distance number and the phone starts ringing. Swindlers usually refuse to quote ballpark estimates over the phone. If you’re told that prices start at $19.95, then it’s a fraud. No legitimate locksmith does anything for that price.
Many times, locksmith scammers will call you back to drop the price if you don’t book immediately. Buyer beware, the price goes up considerably when someone finally arrives. To top everything off, you’ll be told they must drill through your lock. When you pay, they’ll have your money and all your personal info.
Avoiding Locksmith Swindlers
The easiest way to avoid a locksmithing scam is to get acquainted with a legitimate locksmith before you need their services. That may not always be practical so you can make it a point to watch for red flags. You want to call a local locksmith who ranks on Google and has plenty of great reviews but not with a paid ad. If the company doesn’t seem to have a legitimate name when you call, then call someone else. If they answer the phone with “Locksmith Service” or “Local Locksmith,” then call someone else. Keep in mind that locksmithing is a trade with skilled professionals. They will very rarely if ever, need to drill through a lock of any type. If the person who comes to help you insists that drilling is the only way, then you’re probably dealing with a scammer.
Getting In Safely
If you find yourself locked out of your home or vehicle near Fayetteville, North Carolina, you’ll need to work with a professional you can trust. JC Manhattan Locksmiths has decades of experience providing reliable affordable locksmith services with no hidden fees. We encourage you to check our genuine customer reviews on Google and contact us any time of the day or night. In most cases, we can accurately provide a quote over the phone. Contact JC Manhattan Locksmiths when you need a trustworthy professional to get you immediate access to your home or vehicle.
