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class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Scam targeting people locked out of cars or buildings</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the supposed practice of burglars using locksmith stickers to mark vulnerable properties, see <a href="/wiki/Burglar_signs#Locksmith_stickers" class="mw-redirect" title="Burglar signs">Burglar signs § Locksmith stickers</a>.</div> The locksmith scam is a scam involving fake business listings for cheap <a href="/wiki/Locksmith" class="mw-redirect" title="Locksmith">locksmith</a> services that, once called out, overcharge the customer. The scam targets people who call a locksmith out of desperation, usually because of being locked out of their car or premises.<a href="#cite_note-tucson-2007-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-aloa-2014-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a><a href="#cite_note-abc15-2017-7">[7]</a> Locksmith scams have been reported in the U.S.,<a href="#cite_note-aarp-2012-8">[8]</a><a href="#cite_note-kdvr-2013-9">[9]</a><a href="#cite_note-aloa-2014-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-msnbc-today-10">[10]</a><a href="#cite_note-abc-thelookout-11">[11]</a> the U.K.,<a href="#cite_note-mla-2012-08-12">[12]</a><a href="#cite_note-mla-2014-01-13">[13]</a> and New Zealand.<a href="#cite_note-newshub-2017-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-tvnz-2017-15">[15]</a><a href="#cite_note-mlaa-2017-12-16">[16]</a> The scams work by flooding business-finding services with a multitude of faux business listings. All of the phone numbers of these listings eventually link back to a single operation, usually without a legitimate address or license. The descriptions will be similar to legitimate locksmiths, accompanied by similarly misleading advertising, and usually quoting an unusually low price. The person who turns up may perform shoddy work and then overcharge for the service and parts. Since the customer never knows the real business or people involved, at best they can ask for a single phony listing to be removed - a process that takes time and does not negatively impact the scammer much, as they can simply create more fake listings. Side-effects of the scam include damage to legitimate locksmiths who lose business and tend to get angry calls from people believing them to be responsible.<a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a><a href="#cite_note-abcnews4-2017-18">[18]</a> <a href="/wiki/Google_Maps" title="Google Maps">Google Maps</a> has been particularly vulnerable to this operation in the 2010s. It began requiring people advertising locksmith services in the US or Canada to complete its "Advanced Verification" process as of 2018,<a href="#cite_note-zdnet-2018-19">[19]</a> but does not do so in other markets. <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Structure">Structure</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Structure">edit</a>]</div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Lead_generation">Lead generation</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Lead generation">edit</a>]</div> Such scams rely on <a href="/wiki/Lead_generation" title="Lead generation">lead generation</a>, designed to confuse potential customers into believing that the scammer is a legitimate, but low-priced, locksmith:<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-consumerist-2016-20">[20]</a><a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a> <ul><li>Creating websites,<a href="#cite_note-pbdn-2013-21">[21]</a> <a href="/wiki/Online_advertising#Search_ads" title="Online advertising">search engine advertisements</a> and <a href="/wiki/Business_directory" title="Business directory">business directory</a> listings designed to resemble those of legitimate locksmiths.<a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2011-22">[22]</a><a href="#cite_note-npr-2011-23">[23]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a><a href="#cite_note-abcnews4-2017-18">[18]</a><a href="#cite_note-kiro7-2018-24">[24]</a><a href="#cite_note-wlja-2018-25">[25]</a></li> <li>Using <a href="/wiki/Photo_manipulation" class="mw-redirect" title="Photo manipulation">retouched photographs</a> depicting locksmith stores at locations where no store actually exists.<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a></li> <li>Procuring <a href="/wiki/User_review#Fake_reviews" title="User review">dishonest reviews</a>.<a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a></li> <li>Using names similar or identical to those of legitimate locksmiths.<a href="#cite_note-pbp-2013-26">[26]</a><a href="#cite_note-pbdn-2013-21">[21]</a><a href="#cite_note-mla-2014-01-13">[13]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-abcnews4-2017-18">[18]</a><a href="#cite_note-newshub-2017-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-knoe-2018-27">[27]</a></li> <li>Using addresses that are either fictitious, or are P. O. boxes, or belong to an existing home or business (sometimes, but not always, a locksmith business<a href="#cite_note-cbc-2018-28">[28]</a>).<a href="#cite_note-ynet-2005-29">[29]</a><a href="#cite_note-tucson-2007-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2011-22">[22]</a><a href="#cite_note-mla-2012-08-12">[12]</a><a href="#cite_note-businessweek-2014-03-30">[30]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-wlja-2018-25">[25]</a><a href="#cite_note-abc-thelookout-11">[11]</a></li> <li>Driving up the price of online advertisements<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a> to make them unaffordable for legitimate locksmiths. (Locksmiths businesses are among those worst affected by <a href="/wiki/Click_fraud" title="Click fraud">click fraud</a>.<a href="#cite_note-itproportal-2018-31">[31]</a>)</li> <li>Calls being routed to a call centre, rather than to an actual locksmith.<a href="#cite_note-tucson-2007-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2011-22">[22]</a><a href="#cite_note-aloa-2014-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a><a href="#cite_note-boingboing-2016-02-32">[32]</a><a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a><a href="#cite_note-knoe-2018-27">[27]</a></li> <li>Unrealistically low prices advertised,<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-consumerist-2016-20">[20]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-huffpo-2016-33">[33]</a><a href="#cite_note-abc15-2017-7">[7]</a><a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a> or quoted by the call centre,<a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-huffpo-2014-34">[34]</a> together with the caveat, "and up".<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Lead_conversion">Lead conversion</h3>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Lead conversion">edit</a>]</div> The scams then use a "<a href="/wiki/Conversion_funnel" title="Conversion funnel">conversion funnel</a>", in which the <a href="/wiki/Confidence_trick" class="mw-redirect" title="Confidence trick">mark</a> is bluntly persuaded to part with money: <ul><li>Using vehicles that have no signage<a href="#cite_note-consumerist-2008-35">[35]</a><a href="#cite_note-huffpo-2014-34">[34]</a><a href="#cite_note-newshub-2017-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-lifehacker-2014-36">[36]</a><a href="#cite_note-aloa-2014-3">[3]</a><a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a> or only magnetic stick-on signage,<a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a> to reduce accountability.</li> <li>Using staff lacking identification<a href="#cite_note-lifehacker-2014-36">[36]</a><a href="#cite_note-time-2017-17">[17]</a> or uniforms,<a href="#cite_note-consumerist-2008-35">[35]</a><a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a> again to reduce accountability.</li> <li>Disinterest in the customer's right to access the vehicle or building to which the call-out relates; for example, failing to ask the customer for ID or proof of ownership.<a href="#cite_note-aloa-2014-3">[3]</a></li> <li>Refusing to provide a written estimate,<a href="#cite_note-huffpo-2014-34">[34]</a><a href="#cite_note-newshub-2017-14">[14]</a> also to reduce accountability.</li> <li>Insisting upon the use of destructive rather than non-destructive entry, typically by destroying the original lock and necessitating the purchase of a replacement lock.<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2011-22">[22]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a></li> <li>Charging excessive prices, even if low prices were advertised or quoted by the call centre (i.e. <a href="/wiki/Bait-and-switch" title="Bait-and-switch">bait-and-switch</a>).<a href="#cite_note-ynet-2005-29">[29]</a><a href="#cite_note-tucson-2007-1">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-lifehacker-2014-36">[36]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a><a href="#cite_note-consumerist-2016-20">[20]</a><a href="#cite_note-whnt-2016-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-abc15-2017-7">[7]</a><a href="#cite_note-newshub-2017-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-knoe-2018-27">[27]</a></li> <li>Insisting upon payment by cash<a href="#cite_note-ftc-2008-2">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-huffpo-2014-34">[34]</a><a href="#cite_note-lifehacker-2014-36">[36]</a><a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a> or debit card<a href="#cite_note-mnn-2016-6">[6]</a> (because if paid by credit card, the charges are <a href="/wiki/Chargeback" title="Chargeback">potentially reversible</a>).<a href="#cite_note-knoe-2018-27">[27]</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Legal_action">Legal action</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Legal action">edit</a>]</div> Locksmiths and other observers have noted that search engine companies make substantial income from paid-for listings, regardless of whether the listings are legitimate or spam.<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2014-37">[37]</a><a href="#cite_note-boingboing-2014-03-38">[38]</a><a href="#cite_note-businessweek-2014-03-30">[30]</a><a href="#cite_note-wlja-2018-25">[25]</a> Writing in 2016, <a href="/wiki/Cory_Doctorow" title="Cory Doctorow">Cory Doctorow</a> claimed that "Nearly every locksmith that appears on Google Maps is a fake business that redirects to a call center ... that dispatches a scammy, distant, barely trained locksmith who'll come and charge you 5-10 times more than you were quoted."<a href="#cite_note-boingboing-2016-02-32">[32]</a> In the U.S. in 2005, a <a href="/wiki/Bronx" class="mw-redirect" title="Bronx">Bronx</a>-based company was sued by the <a href="/wiki/Government_of_Chicago" title="Government of Chicago">Chicago Department of Consumer services</a> for alleged consumer fraud.<a href="#cite_note-ynet-2005-29">[29]</a> In the U.S. in 2009, three alleged locksmith scammers were unsuccessfully prosecuted in <a href="/wiki/St._Louis" title="St. Louis">St. Louis</a>.<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a> In the U.K. in 2010, a locksmith scammer was successfully prosecuted.<a href="#cite_note-bbc-2010-39">[39]</a> In the U.S. in 2014, a locksmith based in <a href="/wiki/Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a> sued <a href="/wiki/Google" title="Google">Google</a>, <a href="/wiki/Yell_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="Yell Group">Yellowbook (Hibu)</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Ziplocal" title="Ziplocal">Ziplocal</a>, under numerous laws, requesting that those companies "remove fraudulent locksmith listings from their search results".<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2014-37">[37]</a><a href="#cite_note-marketingland-2014-40">[40]</a><a href="#cite_note-nbcsandiego-2014-41">[41]</a> This, too, was unsuccessful, due to the companies' immunity under the <a href="/wiki/Communications_Decency_Act" title="Communications Decency Act">Communications Decency Act</a>.<a href="#cite_note-nytimes-2016-4">[4]</a> In the U.S. in 2017–2018, a group of 14 locksmiths filed a lawsuit against Google, <a href="/wiki/Yahoo!" class="mw-redirect" title="Yahoo!">Yahoo</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Bing_(search_engine)" class="mw-redirect" title="Bing (search engine)">Bing</a>, alleging that these search engines allowed spam listings to drown out legitimate, organic search results.<a href="#cite_note-marketingland-2017-42">[42]</a> This class action was dismissed by the US Court of Appeals in Washington DC in 2019. In Eastwood v. Atlas Locksmith Solutions, et al., Atlas disclosed that it subscribed to 115 telephone numbers in the Phoenix Metropolitan Market, assigned each of those numbers to an address where Atlas had no location or legitimate business interest, then multiplied those phone number/address combinations by 10 different company names on a spreadsheet causing <a href="/w/index.php?title=Veritel&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Veritel (page does not exist)">Veritel</a> (a now defunct telephone company run by Clay Van Doren)<a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a> to publish 1,150 separate and distinct fraudulent telephone listings<a href="#cite_note-44">[44]</a> all promulgated and distributed to consumers by Google, Yahoo, and distributed on a wholesale basis by information brokers including <a href="/wiki/Acxiom" title="Acxiom">Acxiom</a> and others.<a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a> Google says that it has removed billions of advertisements that violated its policies, and claims to have improved its verification systems to combat listings fraud.<a href="#cite_note-sej-2016-46">[46]</a><a href="#cite_note-reg-2018-09-47">[47]</a> However, although Google now requires people advertising locksmith services in the US or Canada to complete its "Advanced Verification" process,<a href="#cite_note-zdnet-2018-19">[19]</a> it does not do so in other markets.<a href="#cite_note-google-adwords-av-policies-48">[48]</a> Also, Google has reportedly resisted removing fraudulent listings.<a href="#cite_note-businessweek-2014-03-30">[30]</a> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also">edit</a>]</div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Adversarial_information_retrieval" title="Adversarial information retrieval">Adversarial information retrieval</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Criticism_of_Google" title="Criticism of Google">Criticism of Google</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deregulation" title="Deregulation">Deregulation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hijacked_journal" class="mw-redirect" title="Hijacked journal">Hijacked journal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Misinformation" title="Misinformation">Misinformation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Passing_off" title="Passing off">Passing off</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sybil_attack" title="Sybil attack">Sybil attack</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Typosquatting" title="Typosquatting">Typosquatting</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2>[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References">edit</a>]</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output 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no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output 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aria-labelledby="Scams_and_confidence_tricks" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Scams_and_confidence_tricks" title="Template:Scams and confidence tricks"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Scams_and_confidence_tricks" title="Template talk:Scams and confidence tricks"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Scams_and_confidence_tricks" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Scams and confidence tricks"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Scams_and_confidence_tricks" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Scams and confidence tricks</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Terminology</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Scam" title="Scam">Scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Error_account" title="Error account">Error account</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shill" title="Shill">Shill</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shyster" title="Shyster">Shyster</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sucker_list" title="Sucker list">Sucker list</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Variants</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Advance-fee_scam" title="Advance-fee scam">Advance-fee scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Art_student_scam" title="Art student scam">Art student scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Badger_game" title="Badger game">Badger game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bait-and-switch" title="Bait-and-switch">Bait-and-switch</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Black_money_scam" title="Black money scam">Black money scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Blessing_scam" title="Blessing scam">Blessing scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bogus_escrow" title="Bogus escrow">Bogus escrow</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Boiler_room_(business)" title="Boiler room (business)">Boiler room</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bride_scam" title="Bride scam">Bride scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charity_fraud" title="Charity fraud">Charity fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clip_joint" title="Clip joint">Clip joint</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coin-matching_game" title="Coin-matching game">Coin-matching game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Coin_rolling_scams" title="Coin rolling scams">Coin rolling scams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Drop_swindle" title="Drop swindle">Drop swindle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Embarrassing_cheque" title="Embarrassing cheque">Embarrassing cheque</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exit_scam" title="Exit scam">Exit scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Extraterrestrial_real_estate" title="Extraterrestrial real estate">Extraterrestrial real estate</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fiddle_game" class="mw-redirect" title="Fiddle game">Fiddle game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fine_print" title="Fine print">Fine print</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foreclosure_rescue_scheme" title="Foreclosure rescue scheme">Foreclosure rescue scheme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foreign_exchange_fraud" title="Foreign exchange fraud">Foreign exchange fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fortune_telling_fraud" title="Fortune telling fraud">Fortune telling fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gem_scam" title="Gem scam">Gem scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Get-rich-quick_scheme" title="Get-rich-quick scheme">Get-rich-quick scheme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Green_goods_scam" title="Green goods scam">Green goods scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hustling" title="Hustling">Hustling</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Indian_coal_allocation_scam" title="Indian coal allocation scam">Indian coal allocation scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/IRS_impersonation_scam" title="IRS impersonation scam">IRS impersonation scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scams_in_intellectual_property" title="Scams in intellectual property">Intellectual property scams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kansas_City_Shuffle" title="Kansas City Shuffle">Kansas City Shuffle</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Locksmith scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Long_firm_fraud" title="Long firm fraud">Long firm</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mismarking" title="Mismarking">Mismarking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mock_auction" title="Mock auction">Mock auction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Moving_scam" title="Moving scam">Moving scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Overpayment_scam" title="Overpayment scam">Overpayment scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patent_safe" title="Patent safe">Patent safe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pig_in_a_poke" title="Pig in a poke">Pig in a poke</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pigeon_drop" title="Pigeon drop">Pigeon drop</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pork_barrel" title="Pork barrel">Pork barrel</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pump_and_dump" title="Pump and dump">Pump and dump</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Redemption_movement" title="Redemption movement">Redemption/A4V schemes</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reloading_scam" title="Reloading scam">Reloading scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Return_fraud" title="Return fraud">Return fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Salting_(confidence_trick)" title="Salting (confidence trick)">Salting</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shell_game" title="Shell game">Shell game</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sick_baby_hoax" title="Sick baby hoax">Sick baby hoax</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SIM_swap_scam" title="SIM swap scam">SIM swap scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Slavery_reparations_scam" title="Slavery reparations scam">Slavery reparations scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_Prisoner" title="Spanish Prisoner">Spanish Prisoner</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SSA_impersonation_scam" title="SSA impersonation scam">SSA impersonation scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SSC_Scam" title="SSC Scam">SSC Scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Strip_search_phone_call_scam" title="Strip search phone call scam">Strip search phone call scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swampland_in_Florida" title="Swampland in Florida">Swampland in Florida</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tarmac_scam" title="Tarmac scam">Tarmac scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Technical_support_scam" title="Technical support scam">Technical support scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telemarketing_fraud" title="Telemarketing fraud">Telemarketing fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thai_tailor_scam" title="Thai tailor scam">Thai tailor scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thai_zig_zag_scam" title="Thai zig zag scam">Thai zig zag scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Three-card_monte" title="Three-card monte">Three-card monte</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Trojan_horse_(business)" title="Trojan horse (business)">Trojan horse</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wash_trading" class="mw-redirect" title="Wash trading">Wash trading</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/White_van_speaker_scam" title="White van speaker scam">White van speaker scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Work-at-home_scheme" title="Work-at-home scheme">Work-at-home scheme</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Internet_fraud" title="Internet fraud">Internet scams</a> and countermeasures</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Avalanche_(phishing_group)" title="Avalanche (phishing group)">Avalanche</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pig_butchering_scam" title="Pig butchering scam">Pig Butchering</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Carding_(fraud)" title="Carding (fraud)">Carding</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Catfishing" title="Catfishing">Catfishing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Click_fraud" title="Click fraud">Click fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Clickjacking" title="Clickjacking">Clickjacking</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cramming_(fraud)" title="Cramming (fraud)">Cramming</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Category:Cryptocurrency_scams" title="Category:Cryptocurrency scams">Cryptocurrency scams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cybercrime" title="Cybercrime">Cybercrime</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/CyberThrill" title="CyberThrill">CyberThrill</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/DarkMarket" title="DarkMarket">DarkMarket</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Domain_name_scams" class="mw-redirect" title="Domain name scams">Domain name scams</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Email_authentication" title="Email authentication">Email authentication</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Email_fraud" title="Email fraud">Email fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internet_vigilantism" title="Internet vigilantism">Internet vigilantism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lenny_(bot)" title="Lenny (bot)">Lenny anti-scam bot</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lottery_scam" title="Lottery scam">Lottery scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/PayPaI" title="PayPaI">PayPai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phishing" title="Phishing">Phishing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Referer_spoofing" title="Referer spoofing">Referer spoofing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ripoff_Report" title="Ripoff Report">Ripoff Report</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rock_Phish" title="Rock Phish">Rock Phish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romance_scam" title="Romance scam">Romance scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_Business_Network" title="Russian Business Network">Russian Business Network</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/SaferNet" title="SaferNet">SaferNet</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scam_baiting" title="Scam baiting">Scam baiting</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/419eater.com" title="419eater.com">419eater.com</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Browning_(YouTuber)" title="Jim Browning (YouTuber)">Jim Browning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kitboga_(streamer)" title="Kitboga (streamer)">Kitboga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scammer_Payback" title="Scammer Payback">Scammer Payback</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/ShadowCrew" title="ShadowCrew">ShadowCrew</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spoofed_URL" title="Spoofed URL">Spoofed URL</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spoofing_attack" title="Spoofing attack">Spoofing attack</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stock_Generation" title="Stock Generation">Stock Generation</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Voice_phishing" title="Voice phishing">Voice phishing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reputation_management" title="Reputation management">Website reputation ratings</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Pyramid_scheme" title="Pyramid scheme">Pyramid</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ponzi_scheme" title="Ponzi scheme">Ponzi schemes</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Aman_Futures_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="Aman Futures Group">Aman Futures Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bernard_Cornfeld" title="Bernard Cornfeld">Bernard Cornfeld</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Caritas_(Ponzi_scheme)" title="Caritas (Ponzi scheme)">Caritas</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dona_Branca" title="Dona Branca">Dona Branca</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Earl_Jones_(investment_advisor)" title="Earl Jones (investment advisor)">Earl Jones</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ezubao" title="Ezubao">Ezubao</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foundation_for_New_Era_Philanthropy" title="Foundation for New Era Philanthropy">Foundation for New Era Philanthropy</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Franchise_fraud" title="Franchise fraud">Franchise fraud</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/High-yield_investment_program" title="High-yield investment program">High-yield investment program (HYIP)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Investors_Overseas_Service" title="Investors Overseas Service">Investors Overseas Service</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kapa_investment_scam" class="mw-redirect" title="Kapa investment scam">Kapa investment scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kubus_scheme" title="Kubus scheme">Kubus scheme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Madoff_investment_scandal" title="Madoff investment scandal">Madoff investment scandal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Make_Money_Fast" title="Make Money Fast">Make Money Fast</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Matrix_scheme" title="Matrix scheme">Matrix scheme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/MMM_(Ponzi_scheme_company)" title="MMM (Ponzi scheme company)">MMM</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Petters_Group_Worldwide" title="Petters Group Worldwide">Petters Group Worldwide</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pyramid_schemes_in_Albania" title="Pyramid schemes in Albania">Pyramid schemes in Albania</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Reed_Slatkin" title="Reed Slatkin">Reed Slatkin</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Saradha_Group_financial_scandal" title="Saradha Group financial scandal">Saradha Group financial scandal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Secret_Sister" title="Secret Sister">Secret Sister</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scott_W._Rothstein" title="Scott W. Rothstein">Scott W. Rothstein</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Stanford_Financial_Group" title="Stanford Financial Group">Stanford Financial Group</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Welsh_Thrasher_faith_scam" title="Welsh Thrasher faith scam">Welsh Thrasher faith scam</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/WinCapita" title="WinCapita">WinCapita</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lists</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_con_artists" title="List of con artists">Con artists</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_confidence_tricks" class="mw-redirect" title="List of confidence tricks">Confidence tricks</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_criminal_enterprises,_gangs,_and_syndicates" title="List of criminal enterprises, gangs, and syndicates">Criminal enterprises, gangs and syndicates</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_impostors" title="List of impostors">Impostors</a></li> <li>In the media <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Confidence_tricks_in_film_and_television" title="Confidence tricks in film and television">Film and television</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Confidence_tricks_in_literature" title="Confidence tricks in literature">Literature</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Ponzi_schemes" title="List of Ponzi schemes">Ponzi schemes</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&oldid=1258122162">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Locksmith_scam&oldid=1258122162</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Confidence_tricks" title="Category:Confidence tricks">Confidence tricks</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Social_engineering_(security)" title="Category:Social engineering (security)">Social engineering (security)</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Property_crimes" title="Category:Property crimes">Property crimes</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Consumer_fraud" title="Category:Consumer fraud">Consumer fraud</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Deception" title="Category:Deception">Deception</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list" title="Category:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list">CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_errors:_generic_name" title="Category:CS1 errors: generic name">CS1 errors: generic name</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_with_bare_URLs_for_citations" title="Category:All articles with bare URLs for citations">All articles with bare URLs for citations</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_bare_URLs_for_citations_from_March_2022" title="Category:Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022">Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_PDF_format_bare_URLs_for_citations" title="Category:Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations">Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 18 November 2024, at 06:48 (UTC).</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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