How to Spot a Locksmith Scam

By Michael Schiavone, owner of Aspire Safe and Lock · Updated October 26, 2026

How the scam works

The pattern has been documented for more than a decade. A New York Times investigation in January 2016 described operators who plant fake addresses on Google Maps in every metro area. The calls all go to one out-of-region call center, which sends whatever subcontractor is free. Phone quotes ran $35 to $90, and on site the subcontractor demanded three or four times that.

The lowest hook is the "$19 service call." The total is never $19. Once someone is at your door, the job turns out to be "more complicated than expected," the lock gets drilled, and the price climbs from there.

Mike Schiavone runs into this pattern in his own market. Many of these listings run as a single call center, with a string of company names all feeding the same phone line, and the work gets divided up from there.

How big the problem is

• The research. A 2017 study by UC San Diego and Google, "Pinning Down Abuse on Google Maps," found that about 40% of fake Maps listings were contractors such as plumbers and locksmiths, and that 11% of locksmith search results were fraudulent. Google reported a 70% drop from the June 2015 peak.
• Google's lawsuit. On March 19, 2025, Google announced a lawsuit in federal court in Northern California against the owner of a Maryland locksmith business. Google said it had removed more than 10,000 fake or hijacked listings, mostly locksmiths and towing. The scheme routed calls through a lead generation service, inflated prices on site and sold fake reviews.
• State warnings. Ohio's attorney general sued an operation that used local-sounding names, routed calls to an out-of-state call center, quoted $19 and charged far more. Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection issued a fresh warning about fake locksmiths in July 2026.

Google has made progress, but fake listings still get through, especially on phones, where results lean heavily on how close a listing appears to be.

Red flags on the phone and at the door

• The phone is answered "locksmith" or "locksmith services," not a company name.
• A "starting at" quote of $19 to $35, with no real total.
• A generic or keyword-stuffed business name like "24 Hour Locksmith."
• An unmarked car, no uniform and no ID.
• "It's more complicated than I thought" followed by drilling a house lock.
• Cash or debit only, and no written invoice.

What a legitimate locksmith does

• Answers with a company name, and ideally you're talking to the person who will do the work.
• Tells you how the job will be priced before driving out.
• Shows ID and arrives in a branded vehicle.
• Gives an itemized invoice with the business name and address.
• Takes cards.

Pennsylvania has no locksmith license

This surprises a lot of people. Pennsylvania doesn't license locksmiths, and Philadelphia has no city locksmith license either. Every business operating in Philadelphia needs a Commercial Activity License, but that isn't a locksmith credential. So when a Pennsylvania locksmith advertises as "licensed," it doesn't tell you much. Ask what the license is for.

The credentials you can actually check are trade association memberships. ALOA's requirements for active membership include time in the industry, references and a background check.

How to check a locksmith in Philadelphia and Bucks County

1. Look for a real business. A mobile locksmith doesn't need a storefront, but there should be a named owner, a local presence and a working website. A Maps address that turns out to be a restaurant, an empty lot or a random apartment is a warning.
2. Search the trade directories. The SAVTA safe tech search lists members of the Safe & Vault Technicians Association. ALOA's FindALocksmith.com lists ALOA members. ALOA itself tells consumers to ask whether a locksmith is a member.
3. Read the reviews for names. Real customers tend to name the person who helped them. Short bursts of vague five-star reviews are a warning sign.
4. Check the Better Business Bureau for the business name and address.
5. Save a number now. The best time to choose a locksmith is before you're standing outside a locked door.

Where Mike fits

Aspire Safe and Lock is one person with one number. When you call (661) 927-7473, you're talking to Mike Schiavone, the owner, who is based in Mayfair in Northeast Philadelphia. There's no call center and no subcontractor.

• Listed in the SAVTA safe tech search and on FindALocksmith.com as an ALOA member. Search zip code 19136 to find him.
• Most of Aspire's reviews name Mike, because he's the one who did the work. Read them here.
• Credit cards are accepted, with a 3.8% card processing fee.
• His specialty is safes and vaults, with a background in bank equipment. See about Mike.

Wondering how a fair quote works? See how Mike prices a safe opening.