TIPS FOR AVOIDING LOCKSMITH SCAMMERS
If you have been scammed by a con-artist pretending to be a locksmith you can file a report by clicking one of the links below.
Toll Free North Carolina
From outside North Carolina
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*CLICK HERE TO VERIFY ANY NC LOCKSMITH*
Contact by mail at the address listed below
Consumer Protection Division
Attorney General's Office
9001Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-9001
*1. Look for a license number in their ads or on their page.
§ 74F-12. Posting licenses; advertisements.
(a) Every locksmith issued a license under this Chapter shall display the license prominently in the locksmith's place of business.
(b) All advertisements for locksmith services shall include a valid license number issued by the Board. The license number of the owner of the locksmith company shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection. (2001-369, s. 1; 2013-370, s. 7.)
*2. Most scammers wont use a company name when answering the phone.
They answer with generics like "locksmith" or "service".
They are typically using multiple company names online and change them frequently.
They also refer to their employees as "techs" or "technicians" because posing as a locksmith is punishable by law.
§ 74F-3. Licenses required; violation.
(a) No person shall perform or offer to perform locksmith services in this State unless the person has been licensed under the provisions of this Chapter.
(b) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, a violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the first offense. A second or subsequent offense is a Class I felony. (2001-369, s. 1; 2013-370, ss. 1, 2.)
*3. Ask for a company name and the locksmiths name license number and county in which they are licensed.
Click the button below to verify their information.
*4. Always ask for the price before giving your exact address. Beware of low prices quotes like $19 or $29 and starts at pricing for simple jobs. No company charges $19.00 or $29.00 to open any car door.
§ 14-117 Fraudulent and deceptive advertising
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation or association, with intent to sell or in anywise to dispose of merchandise, securities, service or any other thing offered by such person, firm, corporation or association, directly or indirectly, to the public for sale or distribution, or with intent to increase the consumption thereof, or to induce the public in any manner to enter into any obligation relating thereto, or to acquire title thereto, or an interest therein, to make public, disseminate, circulate or place before the public or cause directly or indirectly to be made, published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public in this State, in a newspaper or other publication, or in the form of a book, notice, handbill, poster, bill, circular, pamphlet or letter, or in any other way, an advertisement of any sort regarding merchandise, securities, service or any other thing so offered to the public, which advertisement contains any assertion, representation or statement of fact which is untrue, deceptive or misleading: Provided, that such advertising shall be done willfully and with intent to mislead. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1915, c. 218; C.S., s. 4290; 1993, c. 539, s. 59; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
*5. Always ask to see a locksmith license upon arrival.
§ 74F-11. Photo identification.
Every person licensed under this Chapter shall be issued a photo identification card by the Board. The card shall display a current photograph of the person, the person's name, address, and telephone number. The licensee shall have the photograph identification card available for inspection while performing locksmith services. (2001-369, s. 1.)
*6. A licensed locksmith will always ask for your I.D.
§ 74F-14. Customer identification.
When opening a locked door to any vehicle or residential or commercial property, a licensee shall make a reasonable effort to verify that the customer is the legal owner of the vehicle or property or is authorized by the legal owner to gain access to the vehicle or property. (2001-369, s. 1.)
*7. Don't sign an invoice before it's filled out completely and make sure the person on location is giving you the same price that you were quoted over the phone.
Scammers may have you sign a blank invoice and fill in the price after claiming that you signed in agreement before the service and are trying to renig on the agreement.