Consumer guide
How fake locksmith call centers work, what Florida does and doesn’t check, and what to do before you call, at the door and before you pay.
Quick answer
Most locksmith scams in Florida follow one script. A website or ad uses a local name, a call center quotes a very low price, and a worker in an unmarked car says the lock must be drilled, then raises the bill. Get a total price before anyone drives out, ask for the legal business name, and check ID and the vehicle when they arrive.
A locksmith scam usually starts with a low price on the phone and ends with a much bigger bill at your door. You’re locked out, you search on your phone, and you call the first number with a local sounding name. The person on the phone quotes a price that sounds almost too good. Then someone shows up in a plain car, looks at the lock for a minute and says it has to be drilled. The price jumps, and you’re pushed to pay in cash or through a payment app before they leave.
State attorneys general, consumer protection agencies and the Better Business Bureau have described this same pattern for years. The names change. The steps don’t. Once you know them, the warning signs are easy to spot, even in a hot driveway with no keys.
Below you’ll find how the call centers work, real cases from public agencies, what Florida does and doesn’t check, and a checklist for next time. You don’t need to hire us to use any of it.
Most fake locksmiths aren’t one person. They’re a lead business. A company builds websites and ads with a city name in them, answers calls in a call center, then hands the job to whoever is free nearby. The person at your door may have nothing to do with the company you think you called.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s office describes out-of-state companies that use local town names, local phone numbers and local addresses so they look like small hometown shops. Some even claim to have been part of the community for over 30 years. Their call centers pass your information to a local contractor. The office also warns that these outfits often answer the phone with a general word like “locksmith” instead of a real business name.
In 2014 the Ohio Attorney General sued a company over websites with names like 247-locksmithcolumbus.com. People who called those sites didn’t reach a shop in their city. They reached an out-of-state call center, which sent the job to a contracted locksmith. A 2016 Ohio consumer alert described the same setup.
The addresses are often fake too. The Washington State Attorney General’s office reported listed addresses that turned out to be restaurants, upholstery stores, pizza places and cafes. In a 2025 warning, the BBB said some operators change their name and phone number and often have no physical address, so bad reviews never catch up with them.
They’ve found the same bait and switch in state after state. Each case below is linked in the sources at the bottom of this page.
Sued a company in 2014 whose websites used Ohio city names. Callers were told picking the lock would cost $19. The office said that when the locksmith showed up, the actual price was much higher.
Reports a woman who was quoted $95 and charged $260, and a University of Minnesota student who was quoted a $10 service fee plus $35, then told the job would be $140.
Warned on July 16, 2026 about a low quote followed by a claim that the job is more complicated than expected, plus high pressure and demands for cash. It said scammers often use fake identities and unmarked vehicles, with no uniforms.
Warned in October 2025 that scammers copy the names and logos of real locksmiths, quote very low, then invent reasons to raise the price. In a July 2025 news report with BBB Midwest Plains, a man who expected to pay about $150 was charged $1,217.29.
A report from December 2025 described an estimate of $80 to $120 that turned into a $473 charge, with pressure to pay through Cash App, according to a September 2026 ConsumerAffairs story.
Its consumer guide on finding a locksmith warned that some companies use names close to a real local locksmith’s name and local phone numbers, but run call centers in distant cities and send out untrained workers.
The low price is bait. Its only job is to get you to say yes and stop calling around. Once a worker is at your door and you’ve already waited, most people pay what they’re told rather than start over.
The phone price is often just a “service call” or “starting at” number. The real charges show up later as labor, a so-called high security lock fee, mileage, or a new lock you never asked for. The BBB says some scammers quote as little as $15 over the phone, then find “complications” on arrival. That’s why the FTC tells people to ask about mileage and minimum fees on the phone.
A fair lockout price has to cover a trained person’s drive, time and tools. If a price wouldn’t pay for the gas, it probably isn’t the real price. Our pricing page shows typical ranges for lock work in our area, so you know what’s normal before you need it.
Locksmith scams in Florida are hard to check because Florida has no state locksmith license. There’s no state board, no license number and no state background check to look up. Some states do have one. Connecticut, for example, makes locksmiths register with its Department of Consumer Protection and pass a criminal background check.
Florida used to have a few local programs, but those are gone. Florida Statute 163.211 says the licensing of occupations is preempted to the state. Counties and cities that had a local license in place before 2021 could keep it only until July 1, 2025. Miami-Dade County, which had its own locksmith license, stopped issuing locksmith licenses on that date.
What Florida businesses do have is a Business Tax Receipt. St. Lucie County says every business located in the county needs a county receipt, and businesses inside city limits, like Port St. Lucie, need a city one too. Martin County requires one for businesses in its unincorporated areas. A receipt is a tax, not a skills test. It doesn’t prove training, but it does show a real business willing to put its name on paper.
If a locksmith in Florida quotes you a "state locksmith license number," ask which agency issued it. Florida doesn't license locksmiths, so there's no such number.
Do these now, while you’re not locked out. A few minutes today saves you from picking a stranger off a search page in a panic.
Ask, “What is your company’s legal name, and where are you based?” If they only say “locksmith,” call someone else. Ask for the total price for your job, not a starting price, and whether mileage, after-hours or minimum fees are extra. Write down the name, number and price.
Say if it’s a house, car or business. Give the lock brand if you can see it, like Kwikset or Schlage, or the car’s year, make and model. A clear description gets you a real quote. A vague one gives a scammer room to “find” problems later.
The FTC notes that most real locksmiths arrive in a clearly marked service vehicle. Ask for ID and a business card, and check that the name matches the company you called. A real locksmith will also ask for proof you live there before opening anything. If they don’t care whose door it is, that’s a bad sign.
Ask for the total in writing before they begin. If it’s higher than the phone quote, ask why, and remember you can say no and send them away. Never sign a blank work order. Be wary if they want to drill right away, since the FTC says experienced locksmiths can handle most lockouts without destroying the lock.
Ask for an invoice that lists parts, labor and any mileage, with the company’s name and contact details on it. Pay by credit card if you can, since cards give you dispute rights. Be careful with a demand for cash only or for a payment app.
The FTC says to be wary of anyone who tells you up front that a lock has to be drilled and replaced. The BBB has also warned that some scammers drill, then install a cheap lock they brought, which leaves you with a weaker door and a bigger bill.
Report it to the Florida Attorney General and FDACS, call your card issuer, and keep every record: the invoice, the number you called, texts and photos of the vehicle.
File a consumer complaint online at MyFloridaLegal.com or call 1-866-9NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226).
FDACS takes complaints about businesses, even in industries it doesn’t regulate, and tries to settle them through mediation. Call 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) or visit FloridaConsumerHelp.com.
Call right away. The FTC says a written billing error dispute must reach your card issuer within 60 days after the first bill with the error was sent. For a problem with the work itself, try to settle with the business first, then ask the issuer for help.
File a BBB complaint if a real business treated you badly. If it was a fake business or an impostor using a real company’s name, report it on BBB Scam Tracker so others can see it.
Report it to the FTC at ftc.gov. FTC complaints go into a database that law enforcement agencies across the country can search.
If you think a crime happened, such as fraud, property damage or threats, report it to your local police department or sheriff’s office.
None of the cases above came from Florida, but the setup doesn’t depend on any one state. A website, a phone number and a city name are all it takes, and Florida has no state license in the way. We try to do the opposite of everything on this page.
When you call us, we ask what’s going on and give you the total price before anyone drives out. Our technician comes in a marked van and shows ID. Before opening anything, we ask for proof that you live there or own the vehicle. We try damage-free methods first and explain your options before any work starts. If the job turns out different from what was described on the phone, you hear why and the new total before we touch it, and you’re free to say no.
We’re a mobile locksmith based in Port St. Lucie, and you’re welcome to check us out the way this guide says to check anyone. If you’re locked out right now, our emergency lockout page explains what to expect. For planned work like a rekey after moving in or a car key, you can request a quote. You can also read more about us or browse our FAQ.
FAQ
Because the low number is bait, not the real price. A call center quotes a small service fee to win the job, then the person who shows up adds labor, parts or a claim that your lock is high security. Agencies in Ohio, Minnesota and Connecticut have all described this pattern. Ask for the total price for your exact job, including every fee, before anyone drives out.
No. Florida has no state locksmith license, and Florida Statute 163.211 preempts local occupational licensing, so the last local programs, including Miami-Dade's, ended on July 1, 2025. What you can check is the business itself: its legal name on Sunbiz and its county or city Business Tax Receipt. A receipt doesn't prove skill, but it does show a real, registered business.
Stop and ask why before any work starts. If the reason doesn't make sense, you can turn down the work and send them away, even if you've waited a while. Don't sign anything with a blank price. If you feel pressured, call someone else. Afterward, report what happened to the Florida Attorney General or FDACS so there's a record.
Look for a name that's mostly keywords, no street address or one that maps to some other business, and a phone that's answered with just "locksmith." Put the address into Street View and search the name on Sunbiz. Read reviews for repeated complaints about price changes. The BBB has warned that some fake listings copy the names and logos of real local companies.
Usually, yes. The FTC says to be wary of anyone who tells you up front that a lock has to be drilled, since experienced locksmiths can open most locks without destroying them. Drilling is sometimes needed, for example on a lock that's broken inside, but it should come after other methods have been tried and after you've agreed to a clear price.
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