Unlicensed and unqualified, bogus lock technicians charge up to 10 times the going rate for rescuing locked-out victims.

But their ruse is easy to spot and prevent, just by following a few tips.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of locksmith scam artists are taking advantage of emergencies to rip off home and auto owners across the United States. Some professional locksmiths even believe the widespread fraud is part of an organized crime operation.

According to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), which published its annual Top 10 list of consumer complaints this past August, locksmith fraud is one of the fastest growing scams in the nation.

The basic structure of a locksmith scam is simple. You're locked out of your car or your home. Or you may urgently need to change the locks on your home or business for any of a number of reasons like securing it against previous occupants, employee termination or even a divorced spouse.  You look up a listing online or in the phone book and call a supposed locksmith who subsequently grossly overcharges you for the service.  $1,500 or so is not uncommon for a service that generally should cost around $150.

"Often unlicensed locksmiths use the Internet to advertise very low prices," says the CFA. "Typically, they disassemble the locks and then demand more than the amount they originally quoted to finish the jobs. Faced with the alarming prospect of not having working locks, consumers are forced to capitulate."

If the victim refuses to pay, the phony locksmith will often use bullying tactics, threaten to call the police, or refuse to return a credit card that the customer may have handed over at the outset.

Sometimes bogus locksmiths can damage your property in the process of doing a botched job, costing even more to put it right.  Furthermore, unlicensed locksmiths likely will not have undergone the mandatory criminal background checks that licensed professionals do -- so victims could actually be giving crooks access to their homes.

Unfortunately, not all states require licenses, complicating the risks even further.  As of this writing, the states that DO require locksmith licenses, according to the industry's national trade organization, Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA), include: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The fact is that in the vast majority of lockout cases, an expert locksmith can get you back in your home without drilling out the locks.  With cars, they ease the door open slightly and use a device that slides through the space and lifts the door lock lever. And with house door locks they mostly can pick these using a special tools.

So, when you're in dire need of a locksmith, how can you be sure you're calling out a true expert who'll do the job quickly and without overcharging you?  You can't necessarily judge a professional locksmith by the size of the ad in the phone book or a professional-looking website. You need to check them out more carefully, even if your need is urgent.

If it's not desperately urgent, you should consider getting at least a couple of bids.

So here are 8 things you could and should do:

1. Before contacting them, check their ad and website for an address. Look for accreditation such as from ALOA (though a lot of genuine locksmiths are not members). Then check Google and directory listings for customer reviews.

2. When you phone them, ask where they or their technicians are based (again, checking the address), whether they are licensed and what the registered name of the business is. End it here if you're not satisfied with the replies.

3. Otherwise stay on the phone and ask what their preliminary estimate of the cost will be. Don't fall for an outrageously low price like $10 or $20. It's a sure sign of a scam or at the very least you will end up paying a lot more.

4. Very important: Tell the locksmith dispatcher you will want to see the technician's ID and certification, and that you want a proper written estimate from them before they start work.

5. When the locksmith arrives check out their vehicle. Make a note of the license number. Be very dubious if they roll up in an unmarked vehicle or if their behavior seems unprofessional in any way.  If the 'locksmith' is wearing a tee shirt and jeans, think twice.  Most legitimate locksmiths will wear some type of logoed work shirt. 

6. Check the individual's credentials and repeat your request for a written estimate. If he declines after inspecting the job, don't proceed. If he says the lock will have to be drilled out, ask him to explain why, and consider finding an alternative.

7. Don't hand over your credit card or cash until you are happy with the estimate. If they insist on cash, by the way, that's another potential scam signal.

8. If you question their motives and tell them to leave and they threaten to call the police,  invite them to do so, or better you begin to dial 911.  They will definitely back down and probably leave. If it feels like trouble, don't hesitate to call the police.

This is a California Locksmith Permit.  Everyone working in California as a locksmith must possess this permit issued by the state.  These permits are only issued after a person has passed a background investigation that includes any history of criminal convictions. The permit must be carried on their person anytime they're working as a locksmith.  All locksmiths cut keys but all key cutters are not locksmiths. Key cutters do not require a locksmith permit but anything beyond making a duplicate key will require a permit.  Locksmith permits must be renewed every two years. If you see an expired  permit it could mean that the person did not qualify for a renewal or the state of California is slow in sending out the renewed locksmith permits. Using a working locksmith who has an up-to-date locksmith permit is the best idea. Ask to see their California Driver License.  Compare the names on each document to see if they match. Question any differences.    Any legitimate locksmith will show you both of these ID's without question. If not, do not use this person!  Ask them to leave, if they give you any trouble, call the Police.   Do not give them any more personal information than what is necessary to locate you, until you're comfortable with the person you're dealing with.   When you call a locksmith for your emergency situation, typically you'll be asked about the problem you're having, your name, address of where the work is and how you'll be paying.  They should also provide you with a cost. If they don't, ask them to provide you with a price before you agree to have them come out.  If they cannot give you an exact price, hang up and call a different locksmith.  Part of not quoting you a price or a low price like $25 dollars and up are all part of the scam to charging you 4 times the typical cost if not more!

Of course, the majority of locksmiths in your neighborhood -- whether local businesses or part of a national franchise -- are reliable, professional and legitimate.

The important thing is, no matter how urgent your need, don't be panicked into taking impulsive action and ignoring the checks outlined here. 

Pick a locksmith before you need one!

Failing to pick a locksmith before you need one is potentially a quick route to a locksmith scam -- and getting your pocket picked instead of your lock!

Keep in mind that not all locksmiths performed automotive work or unlock cars.  The automotive industry has spent a considerable amount of engineering time to make if difficult  to gain access into a car without using the key.  Because of the complexity being built into the automotive industry locking systems, some locksmiths have decided to bow out of doing that work.  Others have invested in the on-going training and equipment necessary to keep up with the ever changing auto industry locking systems. Those who have done this oftentimes only do automotive work. So when you're pre-screening a locksmith don't assume they do auto work, ask.  Let them know what make, model and year your vehicle is.  Some locksmiths will unlock older cars but turn down working on newer cars.  You may want to pre-screen a few locksmiths in different geographical areas, the locksmith you would call in your neighborhood may not be willing to travel 35 miles away to unlock your car in the middle of the night or in rush hour.  So be sure to ask the question on how far they will travel for emergency service. 

Something you may want to consider doing is while your driving around town stop in at your local locksmith shop to talk to the owner or store manager about the services they provide.  This will give you a change to see their operation, get a business card and determine if they are a company you would feel comfortable using.  The condition of a locksmith store and personnel can speak volumes about a company.  Not all locksmiths have a brick and mortar shop, if fact most do not.  So when you see a shop, chances are good that they have been in business for a while and are well established in the industry.

Ask your friends, co-workers or neighbors for referrals to a locksmith they may have used is the past. This is another good starting point to finding someone you can trust. 

Another route you could take is to join an auto club. Many like AAA offer their members auto lockout service as well as a host of other benefits for a reasonable annual fee.  They have already pre-screened locksmiths and people who unlock cars so the risk of a scammer locksmith coming to your aid is reduced greatly if not eliminated entirely.  The Auto Club may not do you any good if you're locked out of your home or office so you would still need to find someone local you can call when you need a locksmith for other needs. 

                                                                               Ben Franklin 

 Here's the BEST solution to keeping you safe from scamming locksmiths!

Use the printable "FREE KEY" coupon at the bottom of this page to get a spare car or house key duplicated ($5.00 Max Value) to carry in your wallet or purse for emergency use. While you're in our stores, please feel free to ask questions and get to know us, after all...

 We've been in the neighborhood since 1961

 Comlock Security Group, 714 633-1499

We do not opened locked vehicles, however we do work on automotive locks at our Fullerton store location. We will also connect you with a reputable company that does automotive work in the field as your needs dictate.  We do make copies of keys for autos, boats, motorcycles and such in both of our store locations.