• "Locksmith Service." Unscrupulous individuals often operate under many business names/aliases. Thus, they must answer the phone with a generic phrase like, "locksmith service."

• Beware of individuals posing as a local locksmith companies who perform   unnecessary work or charge exorbitant un-locking fees.

• The following paragraph was taken from the Association Locksmith of   
        America’s web site:

"This scheme entices locked-out consumers with large Yellow Pages ads that give the impression you are calling a local business," says ALOA's Executive Director, Charles W. Gibson, Jr., "These companies manipulate listings with multiple false addresses and phone numbers to make them seem like a neighborhood businesses. In actuality, the victims frequently are calling out-of-state operations that are not locksmith companies at all. The consumer is quoted a reasonable price over the phone, but when a person posing as a locksmith finishes the job, the victim is charged a considerable amount more for unnecessary and sub-standard work."

• Pay Attention: Searching for a local locksmith company using search engines over the internet does not assure you that the company is local.   

• Unclear Business Name. Look closely at the ad(s). Is the specific name of the business clearly identified? Does it appear that the dealer actually operates under several names? If a Web address is listed, does the name on the Web site match the name on the ad?
• Identity. A legitimate locksmith should ask for identity and some form of proof that you have the authority to allow the unlocking to be done. You have the right to ask for the locksmith's identification as well. Does he have a business card? Does he have an invoice or bill with the company name printed on it?
• Estimate. Find out what the work will cost before you authorize it. Never sign a blank form authorizing work.
• Invoice. Insist on an itemized invoice. You can't dispute a charge without proof of how much you paid and what the payment was for.
• Refuse. If you are not comfortable with the service provider, you can, and should, refuse to work with the locksmith.