Locked out: how to avoid a locksmith scam

Being locked out is annoying, not an emergency.

The answer in 2 lines. Unless a child, a vulnerable person or a pot on the stove is inside, you have time. First check for a spare key: a family member, your landlord, building manager or super. Locked out of your car? Your roadside assistance (through your car insurance, an auto club or a credit card) often includes lockout help. When you call, ask for the business's legal name and address and the total price, and get it in writing before work starts. A low quote that balloons on site is the classic scam.

The first 3 steps

Look for a spare key: family, landlord, super, building manager.
Car lockout: check whether your roadside assistance (car insurance, auto club or card program) covers it.
When calling a locksmith, ask for the total price, including the trip fee, and a written estimate before they start.

Stop: danger

A child or a vulnerable person locked inside, or food burning on the stove: call 911.

The classic scam

The FTC and BBB describe the same pattern: an ad or search result with a local-sounding name and a low price on the phone, then a technician who says the lock must be drilled and replaced, and a bill several times higher. Some "local" ads are call centers that send unlicensed technicians.

Be wary of a business that answers with a generic phrase like "locksmith services" instead of a name.
Ask if there are extra fees: trip, late-night, mileage.
A standard lockout can often be opened without drilling. Be cautious if they want to drill or replace the lock right away.
Ask for ID and, in states that license locksmiths, the license number.

Licensing: it depends on your state

Some states license locksmiths, including California (BSIS) and Texas (Texas DPS); many don't. Where a license exists, you can check it online before letting anyone work. California's Department of Consumer Affairs publishes tips for hiring a locksmith (DCA).

What not to do

Calling the first sponsored ad without checking the business name and address.
Letting work start without a written total price.
Accepting a lock replacement you don't need.
Paying cash with no invoice.

If it goes wrong

You can refuse a price that changes dramatically on site, before the work is done.
Pay by credit card if you can: you can dispute charges with your card issuer.
Keep the estimate and invoice.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, your state attorney general's consumer protection office, and the BBB.

Good to know

Save the number of a locksmith you've checked before you ever need one.
Leave a spare key with someone you trust.
Renters: you usually pay for a lockout yourself, and you may need the landlord's permission to change the lock.

Sunday morning in Phoenix, Tyler locks himself out of his apartment. He almost calls the first ad he sees, then calls his building's after-hours maintenance line instead. Forty minutes later, a staff member opens the door with the spare key, and Tyler pays nothing.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on October 18, 2026, for the United States. Confidence: high for the scam pattern and the advice to get the total price in writing; medium for locksmith licensing, which varies by state. The FTC's main locksmith alert dates from 2008; it's the latest dedicated FTC page we found, and the advice still matches BBB's current warning. This guide describes common cases, not a diagnosis.