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
- Do they provide unbelievably cheap pricing? The $29, $19, $39 dollar locksmith ads are a scam.
- Do they operate under different business names? Scammer locksmiths often run under different business names to shield their identity.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- If the locksmith gets aggressive or pushy with their tactics or if at any time you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, dial 911 immediately.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Do they have a GST number on the invoice? Check if it’s legitimate here.
- 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.”
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For further information go to Mr. Locksmtih
- Lock Your Doors
- Rekey your Locks
- Alarm System
- Security Guard or Runner Service
- CCTV (Cameras)
- No Cash on Premises
- Fire Safes and Burglar Safes
- Gun Safe
- Facebook and Social Media
- Mark and Engrave all Your Valuables
Hi I’m Terry Whin-Yates from Mr. Locksmith, and this is the top 10 security tips for securing your business during the holidays
Lock your doors. It’s amazing how many businesses are unlocked after employees leave or you leave. The crooks are shake, walking around, shaking the doors, seeing what’s open. It’s amazing how many businesses are unlocked at night. So lock your doors, secure your windows, and check it make sure everything. It’s amazing how many people do not lock their doors during the holidays or during any time of the year.
Rekey your Locks: When you’re re-keying your locks, it’s a good time to go to a restricted or high-security key and lock system. When you use these systems like Abloy, Medeco, Primus, what happens is the keys are restricted and only for sale at the locksmith’s. You’re not going to be able to walk into the local hardware store with a Medeco key and get it cut by that local hardware store or the shoemaker who cuts keys. When you stamp do not copy or do not duplicate on a common key like Schlayge, Schlage, Kwikset, or Weiser, it’s a waste of time. The local hardware stores have those key blanks, and the little shoemakers on the corner, they will cut those keys. Do not copy, do not duplicate stamped on a key is a waste of time. You have a high-security restricted key blank, they are never ever sold to the local hardware store, or the Home Depots, or anybody except for locksmiths who are security cleared and qualified. They are the only ones with those restricted keys. So get a high-security restricted key system. When you give it to staff, if when they leave or whatever, when they hand you back that key, you know they have not had that cut anywhere.
Mr. Locksmith
is an ABLOY® Protec Authorized Dealer
Alarm systems are not the big deterrent anymore, they were 10, 15, 20 years ago. You could put a alarm sticker on your business, and the crooks wouldn’t bother with your business. However now they’re breaking in. They don’t care. They’re gonna get in quick and get out. But you still need alarm system. The alarm system will scare them off, or at least them know it’s time to go. Alarm systems should be monitored, they’re not as expensive as they used to be. You can get a good quality alarm system and monitored for a very fair price. When it’s monitored the police never show up. No matter what they tell you, unless you’re in a small town, in any of the major cities, a alarm on a business or a home, that’s called into the police is a low low priority. They’re so busy they’re not gonna go out. If you wanna be really secure, you have your monitoring station then contact security guard company or a runner service that when the alarm goes off, for a small fee, they show up at the business, they look inside check the doors. If you’ve been broken into, they call the police. The police will respond to a security guard or a runner service saying in progress or it’s been broken into. They will show up. So a alarm system with a runner service is the way to go.
CCTV: Cameras will not stop break-ins. However they are good for an investigative aid for the police after the fact. And a lot of times these burglars, these criminals are hitting business after business. When the police have video to view, then they have some evidence to tie them to the crime. So it’s an investigative aid. Again it won’t stop crime, but it’s great for the police to use, or even yourself when you’re viewing the video. Sometimes you’re amazed its a former staff, current staff, or someone you know. It’s always amazing when you’re looking at the video and you go, oh shoot I know who they are.
No Cash on Premises: If you have a retail business or a restaurant, take your empty till at the end of the night, and put that till drawer and put it at the front door, if you can look inside. Put it on the floor, put it against the door, say no cash on premises. It is amazing how many businesses leave money in the till. They think oh you have the change, you have a few bills, there’s still usually 20 or 100 bucks which makes a crack-head or a meth-head happy. Take your till, empty it, put it by the front door. Show no cash on premises. That is just amazing. That will slow down the criminals. They have to really want to come in.
Fire safes and Burglar safes are two different things. A fire safe will protect your business records. A burglary safe will protect your valuables and cash. If you’re paying under $300 for a safe, it’s not a burglary safe. Good quality burglary safes are expensive and they’re rated as burglary safes. Too many businesses are going to the local store, buying a inexpensive fire safe, and then throwing money or jewelry in it. It’s amazing what I see inside some of these fire safes. If you’ve seen my other videos, you know the inexpensive safes, fire safes, shouldn’t even call them safes, are super easy to open. And with a crowbar or a large screwdriver, they pop left right center. Don’t put a fire safe to protect your valuables. Realize fire safe is for protecting documents from fire. Get a burglary safe. There’s lots of information on my website and other places to get good quality burglary resistant safes.
Terry Whin-Yates Opens locked safe
Gun Safe: One thing that’s overlooked is a gun safe for your business. Gun safes are big, they’re not that expensive, and you don’t have to put guns in them. They’re huge container that’s very secure, even an inexpensive gun safe. Have that tucked away in the back and put some of your valuables in there. You’re gonna slow down the burglars. They’re gonna get into it, but it just slows them down. Gun safes are fantastic for large items or just a lot of little stuff that’s not really expensive, but you don’t wanna lose. Anchor the gun safe to the floor or the wall or both.
Facebook and Social Media: Be careful. When you go on vacation and you’re putting postings, we’re closed ’cause we’re going to Hawaii, you’re telling every burglar in town that your the business is, no one’s there, you’re gonna be away, they can see how long you’re gonna be away for. I know it’s difficult. We all love our social media, like to post pictures of you on the beach to the people in 40 below with snow, but be careful with your social media, what you’re posting. ‘Cause they’re gonna know the business is closed, you’re away, and also know your home is, you’re not at home either. So be careful with social media, what you post, especially when your extended vacations are away.
So I hope these top ten, I added a little bit more, security tips to securing your business during the holiday seasons has been good and lots of information for you. So I wanna wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
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
For Locksmith Franchise and Licensing Opportunities go to http://mrlocksmith.com/locksmithfranchise-opportunities/
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