Yet another locksmith scam is making the rounds with the help of tech savy con artists. The way the scam works is that people create websites that imitate a legitimate locksmith company’s website. Going so far as to even imitate the domain name by simply adding a letter or dash to the domain. This confuses customers into thinking they reached a reputable company. When customers call, believing they are talking to someone at an established, trustworthy company, the scam locksmith cashes in. Not only does he hurt the real locksmith company, but when the phoney locksmith arrives the consumer pays more than what they should have paid.
In Palm Beach, Florida, a man was arrested because he set up websites over the past several years that closely resembled the names of established South Florida locksmith companies. Consumers would look up one of the legitimate companies but end up on a website created by the con man, police said. He registered domain names that were exactly the same as the real locksmith company’s domain with an s added at the end and then created his own website. He used that same tactic with at least five other locksmith companies and created 40 misleading websites.
Police said they spoke to victims of the scam, many said they were quoted one price, then charged another. The customers thought they were calling the established locksmith companies.
Jim is a CT licensed Master Locksmith with over 30 years experience. He’ll repair and install a new lock at your Connecticut home or business and you’ll never have to worry. Just email or give him a call at 860-678-9797.