If you were overcharged, misled, or outright defrauded by a locksmith, reporting the incident matters. Even if you never see your money again, your report helps protect the next person and builds pressure for regulatory action. Here's where to report and how to do it effectively.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Complaint
The BBB isn't a government agency, but it's one of the most visible places consumers check before hiring a business. A complaint here creates a public record and forces the company to respond.
How it works
File a complaint at bbb.org. You'll need:
- The business name and location
- Your contact information
- A detailed description of what happened
- What resolution you want
Once filed, the BBB forwards your complaint to the business. They have 14 days to respond. If they don't, the complaint stays on their record as unanswered. If they do respond, their reply is posted publicly alongside your complaint.
Response rates
Legitimate businesses usually respond to BBB complaints because they care about their rating. Scam operations typically don't respond, which is itself informative to future customers checking the company's record.
The BBB doesn't have enforcement power, but an unanswered complaint or a pattern of complaints damages a business's reputation and can affect their accreditation status.
Why file here
- Public visibility — future customers will see your complaint
- Forces a response or documents non-response
- Easy to do — takes 10 to 15 minutes
- Free
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
The FTC is the federal agency that handles consumer fraud. While they don't investigate individual cases, they use reports to identify patterns, build enforcement cases, and shut down nationwide scam operations.
How it works
Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and click "Report Now." The form asks for:
- Contact information (optional — you can report anonymously)
- Type of scam (select appropriate categories)
- Details of what happened
- Amount lost
- Business information
The report goes into a federal database. You won't get individual follow-up, but your report contributes to data that triggers investigations.
Why reporting matters
The FTC doesn't call you back about your specific case. So why report? Because when hundreds of people report the same company or the same scam pattern, the FTC takes notice. Your report is a data point in a larger picture. Without reports, the FTC doesn't know there's a problem.
High-volume complaints against locksmith operations have led to federal enforcement actions, including lawsuits that shut down nationwide scam networks.
What the FTC does with reports
- Analyzes patterns to identify major fraud operations
- Shares data with law enforcement
- Uses reports to justify investigations and lawsuits
- Publishes data to help consumers avoid scams
Your State Attorney General
State attorneys general are often the most effective route for getting money back and stopping local scam operations. They have investigative power, subpoena power, and the ability to sue businesses for consumer fraud.
How to find your state office
Search online for:
- "[your state] attorney general consumer protection"
- "file consumer complaint [your state]"
- "[your state] AG locksmith complaint"
Most states have online complaint forms. Some allow phone filing. All are free.
What makes state AGs effective
Unlike the FTC, state attorneys general often do follow up on individual complaints, especially if:
- The amount is significant
- There are multiple complaints against the same business
- The business is local or regional
- The violation is clear-cut fraud
State AGs can:
- Contact the business directly and demand explanation
- Mediate disputes
- Investigate patterns of fraud
- Sue businesses for consumer protection violations
- Obtain court orders shutting down operations
Some states have recovered millions for consumers through AG actions against fraudulent locksmiths.
What to include in your complaint
Be specific and factual:
- Business name, address, phone, website
- Date of service
- What you requested
- What you were quoted
- What you were charged
- Detailed description of what happened
- Copies of receipts, quotes, communications
- What resolution you want
Google Maps: Flag Fake or Scam Listings
Many locksmith scams start with a Google Maps search. Fake listings use names like "24/7 Locksmith" or "Emergency Locksmith" with fake addresses and phone numbers that route to call centers. Reporting these listings can get them removed.
How to report a business on Google Maps
- Find the business listing on Google Maps
- Click "About" or the three-dot menu
- Select "Report a problem" or "Suggest an edit"
- Choose "Place is permanently closed" or "Place doesn't exist"
- Explain: "This is a fake listing for a scam locksmith operation"
- Submit
For more serious issues, you can also flag the business for removal if it's fraudulent.
How to leave a detailed review
Reviews are powerful. A detailed, factual review warning others carries weight. Here's how to write an effective one:
Good review: "Quoted $75 on phone, charged $450 after arrival. Technician claimed standard Kwikset lock was 'high security' and required drilling. Drilled without trying to pick first. Demanded cash. No proper receipt. This appears to be a bait-and-switch operation. Avoid."
Less effective review: "Scammers! Ripped me off! Don't use!"
Specific details help future customers recognize the pattern. Vague anger doesn't.
Why this matters
Google is the starting point for most locksmith searches. Fake listings dominate results in many cities. Getting fraudulent listings removed protects everyone who searches after you.
Yelp: Report and Review
Yelp operates similarly to Google Maps for business reviews. Many consumers check Yelp before hiring service providers.
How to report a business on Yelp
- Find the business page
- Click the "More" button (three dots)
- Select "Report this business"
- Explain the issue — misleading practices, fraudulent charges, etc.
Yelp will investigate and may remove the listing if violations are confirmed.
How to leave a review
As with Google, specific details matter:
"Called for car lockout. Was quoted $65. Technician arrived in unmarked van, immediately said lock was 'complex,' and quoted $340. When I refused, he became aggressive. I called another locksmith who opened the car in 5 minutes for $95. This company's quote was clearly bait to get a commitment."
Reviews like this help others recognize the pattern and avoid the same experience.
Non-Emergency Police Line
Sometimes locksmith fraud crosses into criminal territory. Knowing when to involve police is important.
When to call police
Contact the non-emergency police line if:
- The technician took your money and left without doing any work
- The technician damaged your property intentionally
- You were threatened or intimidated
- The transaction involved clear theft (taking payment and disappearing)
- You have evidence of identity theft or fraudulent use of your information
Theft is a crime. Fraudulent service with no intent to perform is theft. Don't hesitate to report it.
What to say
"I'd like to report a theft. I hired a locksmith, paid them [amount], and they left without performing the service." Or: "I hired a locksmith who threatened me when I questioned the bill."
Be factual. Bring your documentation. Get a police report number.
What police can do
Police can:
- File a report documenting the incident
- Investigate if there's evidence of criminal fraud
- Refer the case to prosecutors
- Add the information to databases tracking fraudulent operations
Police reports also strengthen credit card disputes and small claims cases.
Why Reporting Matters Even If You Don't Get Money Back
The most common objection to reporting is: "Why bother? I'll never see that money again." That's understandable, but it's wrong.
Your report protects others
The person who searches that company name next week will see your complaint. They might choose someone else. Your report might save them $400 and a ruined evening.
Your report builds a record
Regulatory action — FTC lawsuits, state AG enforcement, even criminal charges — depends on documented patterns. Every report is a data point. Enough data points, and agencies act.
Your report helps platforms remove bad actors
Google, Yelp, and other platforms rely on user reports to identify fraudulent listings. Without reports, fake locksmith listings stay up and keep scamming people.
Your report supports industry reform
Locksmith scams have been a known problem for years. Progress happens when consumers speak up. Industry associations, legislators, and regulators respond to pressure from documented complaints.
Sometimes you do get money back
State AGs do recover money for consumers. Credit card companies do reverse charges. Small claims courts do award judgments. None of these happen if no one reports anything.
A Quick Checklist for Reporting
If you were scammed by a locksmith, here's your action list:
- File BBB complaint (public record, forces response)
- Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (builds federal database)
- File complaint with state attorney general (most effective for refunds)
- Flag on Google Maps (removes fake listings)
- Review on Yelp (warns other consumers)
- Call non-emergency police if theft or threats occurred
- File credit card dispute if you paid by card
Do as many as apply to your situation. Each one takes 10 to 20 minutes. Collectively, they create consequences for fraudulent operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get my money back if I report to the FTC? Probably not directly. The FTC doesn't handle individual refunds. They use reports to build cases against fraudulent operations. If they sue and win, settlements sometimes include consumer redress funds. But don't report to the FTC expecting a check — report to help stop the scam from affecting others.
How long does a BBB complaint take? Businesses have 14 days to respond. Some respond immediately; some never respond. Either way, the complaint stays on their record permanently.
Can I report anonymously? The FTC allows anonymous reports. BBB and state AG offices typically require contact information so the business can respond, but you can request that your identity not be disclosed publicly.
What if the locksmith threatened me? Document the threats and contact police immediately. Threatening consumers to collect payment is illegal. Save any voicemails, texts, or emails containing threats. Record phone calls if legal in your state.
I don't know the locksmith's real business name. Can I still report? Yes. Use whatever information you have: the phone number you called, the website you found, the description of the van, the technician's first name. Even partial information helps build patterns.
Will the locksmith know I reported them? BBB complaints notify the business. State AG complaints usually do too. FTC reports do not notify the business individually. Police reports are typically confidential unless charges are filed.
Is it worth reporting for a small amount? Yes. The dollar amount matters less than the pattern. A $200 scam reported by 50 people becomes a $10,000 pattern that triggers enforcement. Your report contributes to that pattern.