Description

I contacted a locksmith company for emergency lockout service. Shortly afterward, a locksmith arrived and confirmed he was from the company I had called. However, I became suspicious when the price he quoted was much higher than what I had been told over the phone. I reached out to the company directly and they confirmed that the individual at my door was not affiliated with them. When I informed the locksmith of this and asked him to leave, he refused unless I paid him for the minimal work he had done, which consisted of forcibly breaking my lock. He initially insisted I pay via Venmo. When I declined, he processed the charge using my credit card and took a photo of it during the transaction. The charge later appeared under the name “Lucky Locksmith” for $434.11. The invoice he left behind had no business name, contact information, or identifying details. After the incident, I was unable to find a legitimate business associated with “Lucky Locksmith.” Another legitimate locksmith arrived shortly afterward and completed the job properly. This scam involved impersonating a known business, performing unauthorized work, and coercing payment. I’ve reported the incident to my credit card company and consumer protection agencies. Consumers should verify who they’re letting into their homes and ask for proper identification before allowing any work to begin.