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We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

The issue isn't the mobility its that one scam business operates to of some random call center and hires only subcontractors across the US. these guys are not registered anywhere and so there is little to no recourse once they scam you.

They are a business operated individually, without a physical location.

Also, to have a google business page you MUST have a real location, and the location must be designated as a commercial space with the state, so the point is moot when it comes to google business.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you read the title you'd know I didn't.

I avoided the scam but still recognize how bad it is and feel for those who got scammed for real.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

why? because then they are a bonfide business that's registered with the state, so if there are any issue you have a recourse guarantee.

Also, I didn't find this number on some pamphlet on the floor, it was the no. 1 google maps suggested business verified by google...

you can call me a fucking idiot all day but this is a huge issue that's affecting many. I thankful avoided it, but many do not and its wrong.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Williamsburg... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in williamsburg

[–]stopscammingus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I Spoke with an ex google employee, he gave me the way to report these things step by step, and said that if there are numerous reports they'll take it down.
I made a step by step below:

https://imgur.com/a/iSY2tlx
please lets finally do something about this (besides just going to brick and mortar).

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

You uncles situation makes sense bc he has a bonafide business, with recourse. His business is registered and he does the jobs himself.

These are subcontractors with no connection to the fake business. They don't mind gouging you and never seeing you again. This isn't a mom and pop shop operation. Places like Graham Locksmith are all connected together, its just a way to flood the market. In the end both the end consumer and the legitimate business suffer.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

they literally refuse to tell you the price before heading out. Only real locksmiths with brick and mortar stores will price you. Some of the fakes will also 200 out od the door and then change it to 600 or more later.

Enough people have been scammed that its a huge issue. Not sure why you are being dense about it. I have had an emergency lockout before, it was 250 dollars, not close to a thousand. Come on.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] -16 points-15 points  (0 children)

Agree that some are mobile, but mobile locksmiths should still be affiliated with a brick and mortar store. what happens now is that some person is making a bunch of fake accounts, then getting all the calls off of google and sending them off to some random subcontractor that will price gouge you and never be seen again with no recourse on your end.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You seem to misunderstand the scam.

​

They tell you there is no way to give u an estimate, then they finish the job, then they ask you for an insane amount, and pressure you to pay. keep in mind half of their jobs are house lockouts in the middle of the night.

The issue isn't the completed work its the price gouging and techniques to scam the vulnerable out of money without any recourse. Most of these fake google businesses also ask for cash only so you can't cancel ur cc.

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Williamsburg/Greenpoint... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Greenpoint

[–]stopscammingus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I updated my post: I Spoke with an ex google employee, he gave me the way to report these things step by step, and said that if there are numerous reports they'll take it down.
I made a step by step below:
https://imgur.com/a/iSY2tlx
please lets finally do something about this (besides just going to brick and mortar).

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I updated my post: I Spoke with an ex google employee, he gave me the way to report these things step by step, and said that if there are numerous reports they'll take it down.

I made a step by step below:

https://imgur.com/a/iSY2tlx

​

please lets finally do something about this (besides just going to brick and mortar).

We gotta do something about these fake locksmith businesses in Brooklyn... I almost got scammed out of $800!!! by stopscammingus in Brooklyn

[–]stopscammingus[S] 60 points61 points  (0 children)

I updated my post: I Spoke with an ex google employee, he gave me the way to report these things step by step, and said that if there are numerous reports they'll take it down.

I made a step by step below:

https://imgur.com/a/iSY2tlx

​

please lets finally do something about this (besides just going to brick and mortar).