How to Avoid Locksmith Scams Before You Hire Anyone

The best way to avoid a locksmith scam is to slow down for two minutes before anyone shows up. Ask for the company’s legal name, its North Carolina license number and what affects the final price. Then check that license on the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board’s website. Most scams fall apart at one of those steps.

The scams below tend to hit people who are locked out, stressed and searching on their phone at night. Knowing the warning signs ahead of time makes it much easier to spot them in the moment.

How locksmith scams usually work

Most locksmith scams follow the same pattern:

1. You search for a locksmith and call a number from an ad or a map listing.
2. The person who answers is at a call center, not a local shop. They give a very low quote and promise someone soon.
3. A worker arrives, often in a personal car with no company name.
4. The worker says the lock is “high security” or “can’t be picked” and drills it out right away.
5. The bill ends up many times higher than the phone quote, with charges for a new lock, labor, after-hours fees and “special tools.” They often want cash.

By the time you see the bill, your lock is destroyed and you feel stuck paying. The fix is to catch the problem before step 3.

Red flag 1: Vague answers on the phone

A real locksmith company knows who it is. A call center routing jobs to whoever is closest often doesn’t. Watch for:

• A generic greeting like “Locksmith services” or “Locksmith, how can I help?” with no business name.
• Dodging the name question. If you ask “What’s the name of your company?” and get a pause, a different name than the listing, or “we’re a network,” be careful.
• No clear address or service area. Many fake listings use made-up street addresses to show up in local search results.
• No license number. In North Carolina, locksmiths must be licensed. A legitimate company can give you its number right away.

A quick test: ask, “Will the person coming be your employee, and what’s their name?” A real business can answer that.

Red flag 2: A phone quote that sounds too good

The most common hook is a very low “service call” or “starting at” price. It sounds like the whole job, but it only covers the trip. Everything else gets added on site.

An honest locksmith will usually tell you what the price depends on instead of throwing out one low number. For a lockout, that includes:

• The type of lock (standard knob, deadbolt, high-security, smart lock)
• Whether it’s a home, business or car
• Time of day, since nights and weekends often cost more
• How far the technician has to travel
• Whether anything needs to be replaced

Ask directly: “What is the total I should expect, including the service call, labor and any parts?” If they won’t give a realistic range or explain what changes the price, keep looking. Our locksmith pricing guide explains what drives the cost of common jobs so you know what a fair conversation sounds like.

When the technician arrives, get the price confirmed again before work starts. If the number on site is very different from the phone quote, you can say no and send them away. You only owe what you agreed to.

Red flag 3: Drilling the lock first

Drilling is a last resort, not a first step. Most residential and car lockouts can be opened without damage using picks, bypass tools or other non-destructive methods. A skilled technician tries those first.

Be suspicious if someone:

• Says drilling is the only option before even trying anything else
• Calls an ordinary builder-grade lock “high security”
• Pushes you to buy an expensive replacement lock from their van

There are real cases where drilling makes sense, such as some true high-security locks, a broken internal part or certain safes. But a good locksmith explains why, tells you the added cost and lets you decide. If you’re locked out of your home, our page on emergency lockout service walks through how a normal lockout should go.

Red flag 4: No license, no ID, no paperwork

In North Carolina, licensed locksmiths are issued a license by the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Before you let someone work on your locks, ask to see:

• Their NC locksmith license card with their name and license number
• A matching name on the invoice, vehicle or uniform
• A written invoice that shows the company name, the work done and an itemized total

Other warning signs on arrival:

• An unmarked personal car when the company claimed to be an established business
• A worker who doesn’t ask for proof that you live there or own the car
• Cash only, with no receipt
• Pressure to sign a blank or incomplete form

That last ID point works both ways. A real locksmith should ask for your ID and proof of address or ownership before opening a door or making a key. It protects you. Someone who will open any door for anyone is not someone you want near your locks.

How to check a North Carolina locksmith license

This takes a couple of minutes:

1. Get the license number and the technician’s full name.
2. Go to the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board’s website and use its license lookup.
3. Confirm the license is active and the name matches the person or company in front of you.
4. If the number doesn’t exist, belongs to someone else or is expired, don’t hire them.

If you live just over the state line in Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Indian Land or Rock Hill, licensing rules are not the same as in North Carolina. Check with South Carolina or your local authorities about what applies there, and still ask any company for its credentials and insurance.

For reference, Public Locksmith holds North Carolina Locksmith License #2721, and we’re bonded and insured. You’re welcome to look us up before you call.

Do your homework before you need it

Scams work best when you’re desperate. A little preparation removes that pressure:

• Save a locksmith’s number now. Look up a company, check its license, and put the number in your phone. Do the same for a family member.
• Be wary of search ads. The top results on a phone search at midnight are not always local businesses. Check the name and license, not just the star rating.
• Look for a consistent business name across the website, map listing and phone greeting.
• Keep spares in a smart place. A spare key with a trusted neighbor or a lockbox can turn a lockout into a short walk.

If you’re stranded with a locked car, the same rules apply: get the company name, license and total price first. Our car lockout service page covers what to have ready.

What to do if you think you’ve been scammed

If it’s already happened:

• Keep every record: invoice, receipt, card statement, call log, photos of the vehicle and any damage.
• Contact your card issuer if you paid by credit card and the charge doesn’t match what you agreed to. Ask about disputing it.
• Report it. You can file a complaint with the North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board and the North Carolina Attorney General’s consumer protection division. For questions about your rights, check with those offices or an attorney.
• Secure your home. If a stranger handled your keys or installed a lock, consider having a trusted locksmith rekey your locks so old or copied keys no longer work.

A short checklist to keep in your phone

Before anyone starts work, you should know:

• The company’s legal name
• Its NC locksmith license number, checked with the state board
• The total expected price and what could change it
• That they’ll try non-destructive entry before drilling
• That you’ll get a written, itemized invoice

If any answer is missing or vague, it’s fine to hang up and call someone else. If you’d like to save a licensed local number now, you can reach us through our contact page.