Day-in and day-out, we hear horror stories from our customers who almost got scammed by a scammer locksmith. Unfortunately, many times, people fall for the scams of these criminals.

Today, a very smart Calgary accountant did what we suggest everyone to do, think and refuse to pay. Mariya Savchyshyn owns a condo in Calgary and rents it out. She said her tenants asked her to replace their lock, and a Google search listed Locksmith Calgary at the top, so she called them without doing her searches to see that they are a scammer locksmith.

Finding out if a locksmith company is a scam is quite easy, here are a few simple steps from Terry Whin-Yates to catch them.

Tips from Terry Whin-Yates on spotting a locksmith scammer

1. Do they provide unbelievably cheap pricing? The $29, $19, $39 dollar locksmith ads are a scam.
2. Do they operate under different business names? Scammer locksmiths often run under different business names to shield their identity.
3. Is their Google Maps location legitimate? Many locksmith scammers have their Google Maps locations out of gas stations, Starbucks locations, restaurants, or even a middle of a forest (we’ve seen it all). Pull up their location on Google street view and see where their address is, if it’s another business, it’s a fake. If it’s a house, it’s a scam. For example, the Locksmith Calgary scammer presents their address as 724 80 Ave SW, Calgary AB.  This is a fake location.
   

   Locksmith Calgary Scammer at 724 80 Ave SW

4. Are they licensed? In British Columbia for example, you can check if a locksmith company is licensed or not by inputting their security license number into the following page – Security Licence Status Verification.
5. Check their phone number! Copy their phone number into Google, does it appear in locations like Toronto and other provinces or states where the locksmith shouldn’t be? It’s a fake.
6. Ask for the name of the business owner and a link to his or her biography, if the company is hesitant to provide the information of the owner of the company, stay away.
7. Ask for ID and documentation. Do not let them start work without the company showing their security license, drivers license, insurance, and city business license. If they say “I don’t have it” or “I can send it to you later” or if it looks fake, refuse them doing the work, refuse to pay and send them away.
8. If the locksmith gets aggressive or pushy with their tactics or if at any time you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, dial 911 immediately.
9. Do they have a reputation? If you can’t find anything about them online such as a social media following or a clean track record, do not let them work on your property as they are most likely a locksmith scammer. Reputable locksmiths and locksmith business owners like Terry Whin-Yates, the owner of Mr. Locksmith and Mr. ProLock have a clean track record.
10. Do they show up in an unmarked vehicle, or does their vehicle simply say “locksmith service” ? They are most likely a scam, do not allow them entry or to do any work on your property.
11. Do they refuse to provide an invoice on the spot? Are there inflated or hidden charges? Refuse to pay and if they get aggressive, dial 911.
12. Do they have a GST number on the invoice? Check if it’s legitimate here.
13. Do they list their locksmiths on their website like on a team page with their name and pictures like we do with locksmith Vancouver? If not, you have to wonder why and what they’re hiding.

There are many more warning signs to catch a scammer locksmith. Just use your head and if you can’t determine if they’re fake or not, don’t use them!

One big warning sign which Mariya Savchyshyn should have caught onto was the fact that the scammer locksmith, Locksmith Calgary used the tenant’s phone to phone her. Why wouldn’t they use their own cell number? Because these scammer locksmith’s do not want repeat customers.

Scammer locksmiths such as locksmith Calgary operate on a one-hit basis. They scam you, and then they request an extreme amount of money and force you to pay. Because of the bad experience they provide, they don’t expect you to call back which is why they provide an illegitimate invoice with a fraudulent tax ID, a fake address and at often times as well, a fake phone number.

Thankfully, when the scammer locksmith called Mariya Savchyshyn to say that he’s done, she caught on. Locksmith Calgary refused to provide an itemized invoice for the inflated invoice which was triple the cost, $773.85 as per CBC.

“And I’m like, that’s weird, because usually the customer has to receive an invoice, look at it and then pay, right?” said Savchyshyn.

“I’m an accountant myself, and I know that no one is going to send me money until they see the invoice.”

When Savchyshyn refused to pay without knowing exactly what she was paying for — she says the company threatened to send the bill to a collection agency.

Terry Whin-Yates states that threats are common with scammer locksmiths. We’ve heard from people that the scammer locksmiths have gotten violent with violent threats, verbal threats, death threats and unfortunately much more.

“I just want to warn people because someone … might be scared because that company is scaring people by saying they’ll send them to collections,” she said.

“They might be scared and just pay $800 for a lock, it’s ridiculous.”

A scammer locksmith will have a hard time sending you to a legitimate collections agency. Collection agencies are not stupid, they will ask for supporting documentation which the scammer locksmiths will not have. Do not be fooled by the collection agency trick. If they do send you to collections, you can fight it by signing up to a low-cost service called LegalShield.

Company says invoices issued after payment

“Locksmith Calgary told CBC Calgary they don’t provide a billing service, even for larger companies, and require all payments be made before an invoice is issued.”

This should be an immediate red flag. No legitimate company issues an invoice after payment. We, for example always issue an itemized invoice before the customer pays, because that’s the correct way of doing business. If a customer has a question, we’re always there to answer that question.

It is ok to ask the locksmith who their credit card processor is for collecting payments. Credit card processors are the companies that collect your payment on behalf of the merchant and then provide the merchant with the funds. Names of some credit card processors are: Moneris, Square, Payfirma, Helcim, Stripe. If the locksmith doesn’t know or refuses to answer the question, refuse to pay. If they demand cash, refuse to pay.

“On their website, Locksmith Calgary lists their service call fee as $15 plus labour and hardware costs. A lock change is listed as $35 dollars and a lock re-key as $19.”

For further information go to Mr. Locksmith

Unboxing Lock Tech GM Ignition Removal Tools

So we have a new “toy”, from LockTech. Instead of an unboxing, we will call it an “unbagging”. It’s a full set from AccuReader LockTech. And this is the ignition removal tools. A onewhole set, is all four of them. Rather than buy one at a time, just buy the whole thing. It would save you some money. And again, this is an unbagging, not unboxing. It has never been opened, and it will be the first time of us “playing” with it. We’ve been using AccuReader LockTech’s tools for years, so it is the first time getting like the whole little set here.

So get that there. It is a total unbagging. They’re easy to tell apart which is kinda cool. So we’ve got a blue side, a yellow side, a green one with a toy. So we got the whole set here of four. Most of their products,  by the way are extremely well made. So it does the trick. And we’ll show this in action, this is just an unbagging today, we’ll show it in action down the road.

These four different tools, they call it the V1, V2, V3, V4. And this’ll take out the ignitions on a whole lot of cars like the Chevrolet Cruzes, Chevrolet Colorado, Silverado, the Alero. It is an interesting tool for me. It’s removing the ignition cylinders from GM vehicles without drilling or damaging which is very cool. We’ve had their other products even before. Some of these are earlier ones, but they’re as fantastic. Instructions comes with the bag.

All four (4) of GM Ignition Removal Tools Set

We’ll post some videos of us playing with this. So I hope that helps a little bit. We will play with some ignitions later, but right now this is just an unbagging of a brand new “toy” from AccuReader LockTech for us. I hope you enjoyed watching this video. Subscribe to my channel. Also, visit my website and you can see what online locksmith training I have for beginners, intermediate, and advanced, as well as my covert methods of entry and my nondestructive methods of entry.

Mr. Locksmith Vancouver

Vancouver Locksmith Main: (604) 239-0882

Downtown Vancouver Locksmith: (604) 262-1907

Downtown Vancouver Keystore: (604) 669-8008

Mr. Locksmith Automotive Locksmith: (604) 259-7617

For On-line and Hands-on Locksmith Training Dates and Cities near you for Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced Locksmithing as well as my Covert Methods of Entry, Non-destructive Methods of Entry and to purchase the Famous “Dumb Key Force Tool” that opens Smart Key locks in seconds go to Mr. Locksmith Training http://mrlocksmithtraining.com/

For Locksmith Franchise and Licensing Opportunities go to http://mrlocksmith.com/locksmithfranchise-opportunities

For further information go to our New Westminster Locksmith website http://www.mrlocksmithnewwestminster.com/

Randy has been with Mr. Locksmith as a fully qualified locksmith for almost 10 years now and is now the new Mr. Locksmith Franchisee for New Westminster, Delta, North Delta, Annacis Island and Ladner. Randy is also an Automotive Locksmith and a Licensed Auto Mechanic. Randy is an Authorized Abloy Protec 2 Dealer, Schlage Primus and other High Security Locks.

Randy Bath
Your New Westminster Locksmith and Automotive Locksmith

Again, Congratulations to Randall (Randy) Bath.

Randy at Mr. Locksmith New Westminster provides emergency locksmithing services for residential, commercial and automotive. Our fully qualified, licensed and insured locksmiths in New Westminster are available 24/7/365.

We offer the following services:

• MASTER KEYS
• CARD ACCESS
• KEYLESS ENTRY
• HIGH-SECURITY LOCKS
• KEY CONTROL
• SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
• DESK OR CABINET LOCKS
• DOOR CLOSERS AND DOOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT
• BREAK IN REPAIR
• New Westminster Locksmith

• AUTOMOTIVE LOCKOUT
• ANTI-THEFT CHIP AND SMART KEYS
• LASER CUT KEYS
• REMOTES / KEYLESS ENTRY
• PROX AND FOB KEYS
• PUSH TO START
• LOST KEYS REPLACEMENT
• LOCK AND IGNITION REPAIR
• DELTA LOCKSMITH
• LOCK REPLACEMENT AND REKEYING

• • LOCKS CHANGED
  • DEADBOLTS INSTALLED
  • HIGH-SECURITY LOCKS
  • WINDOW AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS
  • HOME AND APT. ALARMS
  • GUN SAFES
  • BREAK IN REPAIR
  • VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
  • KEYLESS ENTRY

• NEW & USED
• LOCKED SAFES OPENED
• COMBOS CHANGED
• ANY SIZE SAFE MOVING
• RENTALS
• WE BUY USED SAFES
• TL RATED JEWELRY SAFES
• DEPOSITORY AND CASH MANAGEMENT SAFES
• BIOMETRIC AND ELECTRONIC SAFES

And much more!
 We cover every corner of New Westminster Locksmith and Annacis Island  Locksmith– New Westminster with locksmith services. If you have an issue with your locks or keys, don’t wait any longer and call Mr. Locksmith New Westminster or book your appointment online now.

Mr. Locksmith New Westminster Call Randy 604-259-2522

Terry Whin-Yates is the Founder, President and CEO of Mr. Locksmith and is proud to have known Randall Bath for 35+ years.