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Most important step

Report the phone number AND the website to Report Fraud

When reporting a rogue locksmith — two pieces of information are critical. The phone number you called and the website URL. Both go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Both build the case for enforcement action.

📞 The phone number you called

This is the virtual number connected to the fake listing. Include the full number exactly as it appeared — including the area code. For example: 020 3633 7946 or 020 8087 1318. This number is the primary evidence that links the call to a specific network of fake listings.

Also forward the number to 7726 by text — free from any UK mobile — so your provider can block it at network level.

🌐 The website URL

Include the full website address — for example: ontimelocksmith.co.uk or richmond-locksmith.co.uk. The website is evidence of the advertising operation. It can be taken down by Cloudflare, the hosting provider, or the NCSC once enough reports are filed.

Also report the website separately to the NCSC at ncsc.gov.uk — they can get it taken down quickly.

🧾 The company name on your invoice

If the name on your invoice is different from the name you called — include both. This invoice name mismatch is itself evidence of fraud. The company name can be checked at Companies House and cross-referenced with other victims.

Report to reportfraud.police.uk →

National Fraud Intelligence Bureau — every report builds the case for enforcement

Where to report — and what each body can actually do

Different types of abuse go to different bodies. Here is exactly where each one goes — and why. Start with the MLA if you need advice — they are the experts.

What to report Where to report What they can do
🔑 Not sure what to do? Start here
Get advice and make a formal complaint		 Master Locksmiths Association
locksmiths.co.uk/public/complaints

This website is not affiliated with the MLA 		The MLA are the UK's leading authority on locksmith standards. They can advise whether the work carried out was legitimate, whether the price was fair, and whether the locksmith was qualified. If you are unsure where to start — the MLA is your first call.
Advice
Fake Google Maps listing Google Business Profile Redressal Form
business.google.com/redressal		 Can remove the listing. Also — on the listing itself click Report a Problem and state no business operates at that address. Do both
Fabricated reviews on the listing Report on Google Maps — click the review, click the three dots, click Report review

Also report to Trading Standards — fabricated reviews are illegal under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024		 Google can remove the reviews. Trading Standards can prosecute under DMCCA 2024 — fabricated reviews have been illegal since April 2025. DMCCA 2024
The phone number
This is the most powerful report you can make		 Report to Ofcom
ofcom.org.uk — report unwanted calls

Also report to the number's provider — check who owns the number at ofcom.org.uk/number-checker		 Ofcom can direct the telecoms provider to suspend the number immediately. If enough complaints are received against a bank of numbers — the entire account can be shut down. The operator cannot use those numbers again. Most effective
Overcharging and bait and switch Trading Standards via Citizens Advice
0808 223 1133
citizensadvice.org.uk		 Trading Standards can investigate and prosecute under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Keep all evidence — screenshots, call records, invoice if you received one.
Fraud — false representation to obtain money Action Fraud
0300 123 2040
https://www.reportfraud.police.uk		 Referred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Builds a national picture of the operation. Essential if you were threatened or intimidated.
Address misuse — your address on a fake listing ICO — Information Commissioner's Office
ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint

Also Trading Standards in your borough		 Your address is personal data. Publishing it without your consent is a UK GDPR breach. You have the right to erasure under Article 17 — Google must remove it within 30 days of your request. GDPR Art.17
Fake locksmith website with fabricated reviews Report the website to its hosting provider. Find the host at whois.com — enter the domain name and look for the hosting company contact

Also report to Trading Standards under DMCCA 2024		 The hosting provider can take the website offline if it contains fabricated reviews — illegal under DMCCA 2024. The hosting provider's abuse team is the fastest route to getting a fake website removed.

📞 Report a scam phone number to Ofcom

If you called a locksmith and were overcharged — the phone number you called is the most important thing to report. Every report builds the case for Ofcom to suspend the number block.

📱

Forward to 7726 — free from any UK mobile

Text the scam number to 7726 (spells SPAM). Works on all UK networks. Free. Your mobile provider shares reports with Ofcom and can block the number.

🌐
🚔

Report Fraud — 0300 123 2040

Report the phone number and the company name to Action Fraud. This is the national fraud reporting centre — reports go to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Step by step — what to do right now

1

Screenshot everything immediately

The Google Maps listing. The phone number. The reviews. The address. The invoice if you received one. Screenshots are your evidence. Do this before the listing disappears.

2

Report the phone number to Ofcom

This is the single most effective action you can take. Go to ofcom.org.uk and report the number used. Ofcom can suspend it. Multiple reports against the same number accelerate action significantly.

3

Report the Google Maps listing

On the listing — click Report a Problem — select This place doesn't exist or This business uses the wrong address. Also submit a Google Redressal Form at business.google.com/redressal

4

Leave a review on the listing

If you have a Google account — leave a one star review describing exactly what happened. Include the amount you were charged versus the amount quoted. This warns other consumers immediately and is one of the most effective ways to get a fake listing removed.

5

Report to Trading Standards

Call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 or report online. They will refer it to Trading Standards in your area. Give them the listing name, address, phone number, amount charged, and amount quoted.

6

Report to Action Fraud if you were defrauded

Call 0300 123 2040 or report at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk. Particularly important if you were threatened, intimidated, or if the bill was issued under a different company name than the one you called.

7

Contact your bank about a chargeback

If you paid by card — call your bank the same day. Explain the quoted price and the actual charge. Ask for a chargeback on the grounds of misrepresentation. The sooner you do this the better.

⚠️ UNLESS YOU COMPLAIN — NOTHING WILL BE DONE ⚠️

COMPLAIN.
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Most victims suffer in silence. That silence is exactly what keeps these operations running. Regulators only act when they see the scale of the problem. They only see it when you report it.

One report

Adds to the evidence file. Creates a timestamp. Proves you were defrauded.

Ten reports

Flags the number to Ofcom. Triggers a Trading Standards review. Puts the listing under scrutiny.

A hundred reports

Shuts down the phone number. Removes the listing. Opens a formal investigation. Stops others being scammed.

REPORT IT NOW → Tell Ofcom →

Your complaint is not pointless. It is evidence.
The authorities need to see the scale of this problem before they will act on it. You are the evidence. File the complaint.

The Online Safety Act 2023 · The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 · Ofcom · Trading Standards · Action Fraud
All have powers to act. None of them will use those powers without your complaint.

Help others find this site

Sharing your experience on social media?

Please mention locksmithscams.co.uk when you share your story. Every mention helps another victim find the database, the reporting routes, and the information they need to get their money back.

Suggested wording to copy

I was overcharged by a locksmith. If this has happened to you — check locksmithscams.co.uk for a database of documented rogue operators and how to get your money back.

⚠️ Before you call a locksmith — check locksmithscams.co.uk first. The top Google results are often fake listings. Documented evidence and reporting routes for victims.

𝕏 Share on X / Twitter 💬 Share on WhatsApp 📘 Share on Facebook 🏘 Share on Nextdoor

The site has no advertising budget. Word of mouth and social media shares are the only way people find it. Every share could save someone from losing hundreds of pounds.

Why your complaint matters — even if nothing happens immediately

Here is what actually happens when people report. It is slower than it should be — but it works.

Report the phone number to Ofcom

Multiple complaints against the same number trigger Ofcom to direct the telecoms provider to suspend it. The listing stays on Google Maps — but nobody can call it. The operation stops.

Report the listing to Google

Each report is logged. When reports accumulate on a listing Google's systems flag it for review. Leaving a review as an address owner or local resident is the single fastest way to get a listing removed.

Report to Trading Standards

Trading Standards build case files from individual complaints. A pattern of complaints against the same operator triggers a formal investigation. Under the DMCCA 2024 fabricated reviews are now a criminal offence.

Share your story publicly

Leave a review on the fake listing. Contact an investigative journalist. Post on Nextdoor or local Facebook groups. Every public account of what happened warns another consumer before they call the same number.

The Online Safety Act 2023 — new powers, slow implementation

The Online Safety Act gives Ofcom significant new powers to hold platforms like Google accountable for fraudulent content. The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 makes fabricated reviews illegal. These laws exist — but the regulatory structures to enforce them at scale are still being built. The more complaints regulators receive, the faster those structures are built and the more pressure there is to use them. Every complaint you file today helps build the case for enforcement tomorrow.

Honest practical advice

Locked out? Here is what to actually do — before you call anyone

The advice nobody gives you — because it is not in anyone's commercial interest to say it. If you are locked out late at night, calling a locksmith is not always your best or cheapest option. Here is the honest picture.

Before you call anyone — check these first

1

Is there another way in? Back door. Side gate. Window you left open. Garage. If you share a building — does a neighbour have a spare key or can a building manager let you in? Try everything before calling anyone.

2

Does anyone else have a key? Family member. Friend. Neighbour. Landlord. Estate agent. Someone who looked after your pet. Call them first — even if it is late. A taxi to collect a spare key is far cheaper than a midnight locksmith callout.

3

Are you renting? Your landlord or letting agent may have a legal obligation to help you gain access. Call them before calling a locksmith.

4

Is it late at night? Seriously consider booking into a local hotel for the night. Deal with it in the morning when you are calm, it is daylight, and you can find a genuine local locksmith at a reasonable rate. A budget hotel room is often cheaper than a midnight callout — and infinitely less stressful than dealing with a rogue operator at 1am.

The hotel option — seriously worth considering

If you are locked out late at night and cannot find a trusted locksmith — booking into a nearby hotel is often the smartest financial decision you can make. A budget hotel room costs £50 to £80. A midnight rogue locksmith callout can cost £300 to £800 or more. The maths is simple.

At the hotel you can charge your phone, think clearly, contact family or friends, and find a genuine local locksmith through the MLA directory in the morning. You arrive rested, in daylight, with a vetted locksmith who will do the job properly at a fair price.

Rogue operators rely on your panic. Removing yourself from the panic removes their advantage entirely.

If you must call a locksmith at night

If you have no alternative and must call a locksmith late at night — do not search Google. Use the MLA directory at locksmiths.co.uk on your phone. If no MLA locksmith answers, try Checkatrade. Always get a written price via WhatsApp before anyone comes out. And be aware that legitimate locksmiths may not be available at midnight — and if they are, a fair night rate will be higher than a daytime rate.

A genuine locksmith who quotes £120 for a midnight callout is being honest with you. A locksmith who quotes £49 at midnight is not.

The best defence against being locked out

Give a spare key to someone you trust

Family member, neighbour, close friend. The single most effective prevention. Costs nothing.

Never leave your key in the lock inside

If you have a back door — make sure you can access it. Two ways in is always better than one.

Save a locksmith's number now

Find a genuine local locksmith via locksmiths.co.uk today. Save their number as LOCAL LOCKSMITH. Do it now — not when you need them.

Check your home insurance

Many home insurance policies include lockout cover. Check yours before you need it. Your insurer may have approved locksmiths they will send at no cost to you.

Before you need one — read this now

How to find a legitimate locksmith in the UK — before you are locked out

The most important thing you can do is find your local locksmith before you need one. Save their number in your phone today. When you are locked out at 11pm in the rain is the worst possible moment to start searching Google — because that is exactly when the fake listings are designed to catch you.

The honest truth about finding a locksmith in London in 2026

If you are searching for how to avoid a rogue locksmith, how to find a legitimate locksmith in London, or how to check a locksmith before you call — you are in the right place. Genuine local locksmiths in London are becoming increasingly hard to find — not because they do not exist, but because fake listings have so completely dominated online search results that legitimate businesses have been pushed out of view. The playing field has been so skewed by fake paid adverts and virtual number networks that many genuine locksmiths have simply stopped trying to compete on Google.

If something is not done — through licensing, through regulation, through enforcement — the same hollowing out that has happened in London will spread to every town and city in the UK. The genuine local locksmith who trained, who invested in tools, who built a reputation over years, is being driven out of their own market by operators who have no qualifications, no local presence, and no intention of doing a good job.

Where to look — in order of reliability

Master Locksmiths Association MLA

First choice — most reliable

locksmiths.co.uk — Master Locksmiths Association directory

The MLA directory is the most reliable place to find a genuine, vetted locksmith in the UK. MLA members are assessed for technical competence, vetted, and must adhere to a code of conduct. This is the place to look first — before you need a locksmith, not after.

The number of MLA members in London has fallen significantly in recent years — a direct consequence of fake listings making it impossible for genuine locksmiths to compete on Google. If you cannot find an MLA locksmith in your immediate area, search the nearest town and ask if they cover your postcode. Many do.

Find an MLA locksmith near you →

This website is not affiliated with the MLA. The link is provided as a public service.

2. Certified Locksmiths and Security

Certified Locksmiths and Security is a directory of vetted and certified locksmith professionals across the UK. Unlike general trade directories that accept any applicant, this directory applies specific criteria to ensure every locksmith listed is genuinely qualified and operating to a professional standard. A useful second resource alongside the MLA.

Find a certified locksmith →

This website is not affiliated with Certified Locksmiths and Security. The link is provided as a public service.

Second choice

Which? Trusted Traders

Which? Trusted Traders is backed by the consumer champion Which? and applies an endorsement process including trading history and customer reference checks — making it a more rigorous option than standard trade directories. The Which? brand also gives consumers additional confidence that listed traders have been properly assessed. Search for a locksmith at trustedtraders.which.co.uk. Backed by the Which? consumer champion — a trusted and well known third option for finding a vetted local locksmith.

Find a locksmith on Which? Trusted Traders →

Checkatrade — checkatrade.com

Checkatrade vets tradespeople and verifies reviews — though its vetting process is less rigorous than the MLA. It is a reasonable second option if no MLA locksmith is available in your area. Look for locksmiths with a significant number of verified reviews describing specific jobs — not generic praise. A named locksmith in the reviews is a positive sign.

Note: Checkatrade is more reliable than Google Maps but is not as thorough as the MLA directory. Use it as a second option rather than a first choice.

Find a locksmith on Checkatrade →

Do not rely on search engine results for a locksmith when you are locked out

The top results on Google for "locksmith near me" are overwhelmingly fake listings. This has been documented and reported repeatedly — and the listings remain.

If you are already locked out and have no saved number — use the MLA directory at locksmiths.co.uk on your phone. It takes sixty seconds. It is infinitely safer than calling the first Google result. The sixty seconds you spend finding a genuine locksmith could save you hundreds of pounds and a very unpleasant experience.

The single most useful thing you can do right now

Find your local locksmith today.
Save their number in your phone.

Go to locksmiths.co.uk right now. Find the nearest MLA locksmith to your home. Call them during business hours — introduce yourself, confirm they cover your area, get their number. Save it in your phone as LOCAL LOCKSMITH. That thirty second phone call today could save you £500 and a very distressing evening in the future.

Find your local locksmith now →

Visual guides

What fake listings look like — and exactly how to report them

Google makes reporting deliberately difficult. The three dots on a sponsored ad, the Report a Problem link buried at the bottom of a Maps listing, the flag on a review — none of it is obvious. These visual guides show you exactly where to tap or click on your phone or computer.

What you see when you search for a locksmith on Google

Google Search Diagrams — Preview

These diagrams show what fake locksmith results look like on Google. Review them and let us know if they look realistic enough for the website.

Diagram 1 of 3

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

What you see at the very top of search results — these are paid ads and are often fake

Diagram 2 of 3

LOCAL BUSINESS LISTING

What a fake local locksmith listing looks like — and how to report it

Diagram 3 of 3

ON YOUR PHONE

What fake locksmith results look like when you search on your mobile

These diagrams are illustrative — based on real fake listings documented in west London July 2026

Step by step — how to report each type of fake listing

How to report fake locksmith listings — step by step

Google makes this deliberately hard to find. Here is exactly where to tap or click for each type of report.

How to report a fake Google sponsored ad

Sponsored ads appear at the very top of Google search results with a small "Sponsored" label. Here is how to report one.

How to report a fake Google Maps local business listing

Fake local business listings appear in the map pack below the sponsored ads. The Report a Problem link is buried — here is exactly where to find it.

How to report a fake review on a Google listing

Fabricated reviews are illegal under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Here is how to flag them directly on Google.

locksmithscams.co.uk — How to report fake locksmith listings

Important — know your rights

Aggressive locksmith behaviour — what to do and when to call 999

Aggressive and intimidating behaviour on the doorstep is not just unpleasant — it is a deliberate tactic used by rogue operators to extract payment. It is also, in many cases, a criminal matter. You have rights. You have options. And you are not alone.

A particular concern — women alone at home

A woman alone at home — locked out, stressed, often at night — is in a particularly vulnerable position when an aggressive male operative arrives at her door. Rogue operators are aware of this vulnerability. The aggression is calculated. The aim is to make the consumer feel that paying whatever is demanded is the only way to make the situation end.

This is not acceptable. It is not something you have to tolerate. And in many cases it crosses the line from poor customer service into criminal behaviour — specifically aggravated behaviour under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and potentially harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you feel physically threatened at any point — call 999 immediately. Do not wait. This is a police matter.

What aggressive locksmith behaviour looks like

1

Refusing to leave until paid. Blocking the doorway. Standing in your personal space. Using physical presence to intimidate. Potentially an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

2

Raising their voice or using threatening language. Shouting, swearing, or making threats — even veiled ones — is criminal behaviour. Call 999.

3

Two operatives arriving together. A deliberate intimidation tactic. Two people on your doorstep makes you feel outnumbered and less able to refuse. A genuine sole trader locksmith works alone.

4

Demanding payment before leaving. Holding your property or security to ransom. Refusing to give you the keys until you pay. This is extortion.

5

Targeting women alone, elderly people, or anyone vulnerable. Rogue operators specifically exploit moments of vulnerability. Late at night. Someone alone. Someone elderly. Someone visibly distressed. The aggression is calibrated to that vulnerability.

6

Removing parts of your lock without returning them. Taking the old cylinder or keys — leaving you with no evidence of what was replaced and no way to verify what you were charged for.

What to do if a locksmith becomes aggressive

Call 999 if you feel threatened

This is not an overreaction. A person on your doorstep behaving aggressively, refusing to leave, or making threats is a matter for the police. Call 999. Tell them you feel threatened and give your address. Police have attended locksmith confrontations before and will attend again.

If you pay — pay by card

If you feel you have no choice but to pay — always pay by card rather than cash. A card payment can be disputed and recovered via Section 75 or chargeback. Cash cannot. Call your bank immediately after the operative leaves.

Note everything immediately after

Write down everything you remember — time, what was said, threatening language or behaviour, the vehicle, the invoice company name and phone number. This is your evidence for the police, Trading Standards, and your bank.

Tell a neighbour or family member immediately

Contact someone you trust straight away. A contemporaneous account from someone you told immediately is valuable evidence if the matter goes to the police or Trading Standards.

Report the aggressive behaviour specifically

When reporting to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 — specifically mention the aggressive behaviour, not just the overcharging. Aggressive commercial practices are a specific criminal offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

The law is on your side

Aggressive commercial practices — including using harassment, coercion, or undue influence to pressure a consumer into paying — are a specific criminal offence under Regulation 7 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Refusing to leave your property when asked is potentially an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Threatening behaviour is a public order offence under the Public Order Act 1986.

You do not have to put up with this. The law recognises what happened to you. Report it.

Documented — police intervention at a locksmith confrontation

A police officer driving past independently stopped her vehicle and intervened when she witnessed aggressive behaviour by a locksmith operative at a residential address in west London. The operative left the scene. The consumer was able to dispute the charge as a result.

This case confirms that police do respond to aggressive locksmith behaviour. If a police officer driving past felt it warranted stopping — your call to 999 is entirely justified.

Professional insight — from inside the industry

Red flags on the phone — before anyone comes to your door

Most people do not realise they are dealing with a rogue operator until someone is standing at their door with a drill. But the warning signs are there on the phone call — if you know what to listen for. Someone with direct knowledge of the industry explains what a genuine locksmith does differently.

✓ Genuine locksmith

✗ Rogue operator

Asks you to describe the problem in detail. What type of lock? What type of door? What exactly happened — key broken, lock jammed, locked out?

Does not ask much about the problem at all. Just wants to know your address and when they can come. The problem is irrelevant to them — the job is always the same.

Asks you to send a photo of the lock on WhatsApp or by email so they can assess the job properly before quoting.

Never asks for a photo. Does not need one. The lock type and condition make no difference to them because the price will be whatever they decide when they arrive.

Gives a written quote or written estimate via WhatsApp or email before attending. If the estimate needs to change on arrival, explains clearly why and gets verbal agreement before starting.

Gives a vague price on the phone — "from £49" or "we'll assess when we get there." Nothing in writing. The vagueness is deliberate — it leaves room to charge whatever they want.

Tries non-destructive entry first — picking, bumping, using a letterbox tool to push down the handle. Drilling is an absolute last resort, used only when the lock is genuinely damaged or is a high security lock that cannot be picked.

Goes straight for the drill. Every time. Drilling destroys the original lock, forces a replacement, and justifies inflated parts charges. A rogue operator's profits depend on drilling — non-destructive entry costs them money.

Turns up alone in a marked vehicle. Shows ID. Gives their full name. Is not pushy about starting work immediately.

May turn up in an unmarked car — not a branded van. Sometimes turns up in pairs. No ID offered. Pushes to start work immediately before you can ask questions or change your mind.

Gives you a proper VAT invoice with the company name, address, and registration number before or immediately after payment.

Demands payment before leaving. May produce a handwritten receipt or no receipt at all. Invoice may be in a completely different company name to the one you called — making it harder to challenge.

Tells you honestly if the job is simple and cheap. A locked uPVC door where you can see the handle is down is often just a letterbox tool job — takes two minutes and costs very little. A genuine locksmith tells you this.

Makes every job as big and expensive as possible. A simple handle-down lockout becomes a drilled lock, a new cylinder, labour charges, call-out fees, and VAT — all added after arrival with no prior agreement.

The phone call red flags — listen carefully

They want your address immediately

Before asking anything about the problem. Before giving a price. The address is what they want. Everything else is secondary.

They are pushy about coming out right now

Pressure to commit immediately. "We have someone nearby." "We can be there in ten minutes." Urgency is manufactured to stop you shopping around.

They will not give a price in writing

Ask them to WhatsApp or email the quote. A genuine locksmith will. A rogue operator will not — because a written quote is a commitment they have no intention of honouring.

They do not ask for a photo of the lock

A professional assesses the job before quoting. If they are not interested in what type of lock you have — they already know what they are going to charge regardless.

The price is "from £49" with no detail

"From" means nothing. Ask what the total fixed price will be for your specific job. If they cannot or will not tell you — do not let them come.

They call back from a different number

You called one number, someone calls back from a completely different number. The listing number routes to a call centre — the operative uses their own mobile. Two different numbers for one job is a red flag.

What to say on the phone — three questions that sort genuine from rogue

1

"Can you send me a written quote on WhatsApp before you come out?"

A genuine locksmith will ask for a photo of the lock first and then send you a written estimate. A rogue operator will make excuses, say they need to assess it first, or simply refuse.

2

"Will you try non-destructive entry before drilling?"

A genuine locksmith will say yes without hesitation and explain their approach. A rogue operator may say yes on the phone — and then drill the moment they arrive anyway.

3

"What is your full company name and are you registered with a recognised trade body?"

A genuine locksmith tells you their name and company immediately. Search trade associations directory at checkatrade.com before you call anyone — find a vetted locksmith in advance so you are never making a panicked decision.

The golden rule: Find your local locksmith before you need one. Save their number in your phone. Check they are registered with a trade body. That thirty second search done on a calm afternoon could save you £1,600 on a stressful night.

How to spot a fake locksmith listing on Google Maps

Fake locksmith listings are professionally made to look real. They have five star reviews, local addresses, and local-looking phone numbers. Here is what gives them away.

1

Town name in the business name

"Fortress Key Locksmith Kew." "Choice Locksmith Richmond." Real local locksmiths do not need to put the town in their name — they are already there.

2

No named locksmith anywhere

Every genuine local locksmith is named in their reviews. "Adam was brilliant." "Kevin arrived in 20 minutes." If no name appears anywhere — it is a call centre, not a person.

3

Generic reviews with no detail

"Great service, arrived quickly, very professional." No street name. No specific job. No price mentioned. No name. Genuine reviews are specific. Fake ones are vague.

4

Open 24 hours, 7 days, every day

A genuine sole trader locksmith is not open 24 hours every day of the year. If the hours show 6am–11pm or 24/7 with no days off — it is a call centre.

5

Sequential virtual phone number

Numbers like 020 3633 7946 and 020 3633 7561 in the same area are from the same bulk-purchased phone bank. They route to the same call centre — not a local locksmith.

6

Address does not match

The address shown is often a residential house, a garden centre, a business park, or a virtual office. Search the address on Google Street View. Is it a locksmith? Almost certainly not.

7

Multiple operative names

If reviews name "Alex" in one review and "George" in another — it is not a local sole trader. It is a dispatch centre sending different operatives from a pool.

8

Reviews stuffed with SEO keywords

"Best emergency locksmith in TW8." "24/7 emergency lock change in Brentford." No real customer writes a review like that. Those are paid fake reviews designed to rank in search.

Before you call any locksmith Search their name plus the word "reviews" and "scam." Check their address on Google Street View. Call them and ask for their name. Ask for a written quote before they touch anything. If they refuse — hang up.

How to check if a locksmith is genuine

If you have been overcharged

You are not alone. Here is what is happening and what you can do.

The Bait and Switch — how it works They quote £49–£85 on the phone. When they arrive they say the lock needs drilling — destroying your original lock deliberately to justify fitting a replacement at vastly inflated prices. A lock worth £8 at trade is billed at £140. You end up with a bill of £200, £400, or more. They demand payment before they leave. They may issue the bill under a completely different company name.
£370

Charged for one lock. An £8 deadlock marked up 1,650%. The bill came from a different company name than the one I called.

Public review — Tooting, London
£240

Charged for 30 seconds of work. Demanded payment before invoice. Still have not received a receipt.

Public review — Richmond, London
£216

Quoted £80 labour and told the lock would start from £45. Final bill £216. Fitted a £95 lock without asking me.

Public review — Putney, London
£1,600

Forty five minutes on a job a genuine locksmith would have completed for under £100. She never got her money back.

West London — reported to Trading Standards

Can I get my money back?

If you paid by card — contact your bank immediately and ask for a chargeback. Explain you were misled about the price before the work started. This is a strong ground for a chargeback under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if you paid by credit card, or the Visa/Mastercard chargeback scheme if you paid by debit card.

If you paid cash — the chances of direct recovery are slim. But reporting it is still vital — see below.

Even if you cannot get your money back Reporting the incident to Trading Standards, Ofcom, and Action Fraud creates an evidence trail that can result in the operator being prosecuted and the phone numbers being shut down — stopping the same thing happening to someone else. Your report matters even if it does not personally benefit you.
Master Locksmiths Association MLA

Expert advice and formal complaints

The Master Locksmiths Association can help

The MLA are the UK's leading authority on locksmith standards. They offer advice to consumers who have been scammed and operate an official complaints process. If you are unsure whether the work carried out was legitimate or the price was fair — the MLA can advise.

MLA Complaints Form →

locksmithscams.co.uk is independent and not affiliated with the MLA. This link is provided as a public service.

About us

About Us — Who we are and why we built this

Who created this website

This website was created by a concerned member of the public who has witnessed a number of people fall victim to rogue locksmith crimes — and felt compelled to do something about it.

A relative suggested the idea — pointing out that the research and evidence gathered could help others who have been scammed, or who want to avoid being scammed in the future. We had the time, we had the tools, and nothing like this existed anywhere online. So we built it.

We are not a business. We do not earn money from this website. There are no ads, no affiliate links, and no commercial interests of any kind. This is a public interest resource — built by someone who witnessed enough harm to feel that staying silent was no longer an option.

How we researched it

Everything on this website is based on publicly available information — Google Maps listings, consumer review platforms, court records, BBC investigations, Companies House records, and Ofcom documentation. No private or confidential information has been used.

We used a range of online research tools to identify patterns in fake listings — phone number networks, address misuse, review anomalies — and cross-referenced findings against multiple public sources before publishing anything.

We have also been in contact with Trading Standards in our area who are aware of this website and have found it a useful resource.

What we are connected to

Trading Standards in our borough are aware of this issue and are aware of this website. They may find it of use in their ongoing investigations into fake locksmith listings in our area.

We have submitted a response to the Ofcom Fraudulent Advertising Consultation — deadline 2 October 2026.

We support the parliamentary petition calling on the Government to strengthen rules against scam emergency trade adverts — closing 10 September 2026.

What we are not

This website is not affiliated with any locksmith trade association or industry body.

This website is not affiliated with any commercial organisation.

This website does not receive any funding from any source. It is independently maintained at personal expense.

Contact us

If you have evidence to share, a listing to report, or a story to tell — use the anonymous contact form below. Every submission is read and where possible added to the database.

The real state of play — published July 2026

Want to run a fraudulent locksmith business in the UK? Come right in.

"If you want to operate a locksmith business in the UK that breaks every single rule in the book — come to the UK. Because nobody will do anything about it."

— Anonymous contributor, locksmithscams.co.uk, July 2026

This is not a complaint about a lack of law. The UK has comprehensive consumer protection legislation that should make fake locksmith operations impossible to sustain. The problem is not the law. The problem is that nobody is enforcing it.

Here is what every fake locksmith listing operating in the UK is doing simultaneously — and which law it is breaking.

Using a fake address to misrepresent local presence

Fraud Act 2006

Every fake listing uses a false address — a building site, a garden centre, a residential property, a business park — to misrepresent local presence and deceive consumers into believing they are calling a local business. False representation to obtain a financial advantage. Up to ten years imprisonment.

Fabricated reviews

DMCCA 2024 Schedule 20

Every single fake listing carries fabricated five star reviews. Commissioning them is illegal. Writing them is illegal. Hosting them without taking reasonable steps to prevent them is illegal. Criminal offence since April 2025. The CMA can fine platforms up to 10% of global annual turnover for non-compliance. Nobody has been fined.

Bait and switch pricing

CPUT 2008

Quoting £49 on the phone and charging £370 on arrival is a misleading commercial practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. It has been illegal for over fifteen years. It is happening every day across every London borough. Trading Standards are under-resourced to prosecute it at scale.

Aggressive and intimidating behaviour at the door

CPUT 2008

Threatening consumers on their own doorstep, refusing to leave until paid, sending two operatives to intimidate — all specific criminal offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. A policewoman had to stop her car to intervene in one documented incident. The operative was warned — and walked away with the money.

Using a real address without consent

UK GDPR Article 17

Fake listings use real residential addresses, real business addresses, and real community spaces without the knowledge or consent of the people who live or work there. Using personal data — a home address — without lawful basis is a breach of UK GDPR. The ICO can act. The right to erasure applies within 30 days of request.

Billing under a different company name

Fraud Act 2006

Multiple operators advertise under one company name and bill under a completely different one — General Services, Locksmith London Ltd, Locksmith Solutions. This is deliberate misrepresentation designed to obstruct chargebacks and consumer complaints. It is fraud. The invoice in your hand is evidence. Keep it.

The bodies that have the power to act — and why they are not acting at scale

Ofcom — Communications Act 2003, Online Safety Act 2023

Has the power to suspend virtual phone numbers used for fraud, direct providers to implement Know Your Customer checks, and fine platforms that fail their duty of care. Currently running a consultation on fraudulent advertising. Deadline 2 October 2026. Has not yet acted on the virtual number networks documented on this site.

CMA — Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024

Has the power to fine Google up to 10% of global annual turnover for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent fabricated reviews. Fabricated reviews have been illegal since April 2025. No fine has been issued.

Trading Standards — Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

Has the power to prosecute bait and switch pricing and aggressive trading practices. Chronically under-resourced. London Borough of Merton Trading Standards are actively engaged — but borough by borough enforcement cannot match a coordinated national operation. The National Trading Standards eCrime Team has cross-boundary powers but limited resource.

ICO — UK GDPR

Has the power to act on unlawful use of residential addresses on Google Maps listings. Has not prioritised this as a category of GDPR breach despite it affecting hundreds of addresses across the UK.

The laws are there. The evidence is there. The powers are there. What is missing is the will to use them.

Every regulatory body listed above has the legal power to act on this problem right now — without new legislation, without new funding, without waiting for the Ofcom consultation outcome. The tools already exist. What is missing is the political priority and the coordination between agencies to use them together.

Meanwhile the operators keep going. New listings appear every day. Suspended listings are reinstated within days. Convicted fraudsters' addresses are reused on Google Maps years after prosecution. And the international signal is unmistakeable — the UK is an open market for this type of fraud because the consequences of operating here are minimal.

Every complaint you make — to Ofcom, to Trading Standards, to Action Fraud, to your MP — is a direct challenge to that status quo. It is evidence that forces these bodies to act or explain in writing why they have not. File every complaint. Every time.

You were scammed by a locksmith.
You might not get your money back — but you can get your own back.

These operators rely on victims staying silent — embarrassed, frustrated, assuming nothing will be done. When you report them, that changes. Phone numbers get suspended. Listings get removed. Cases get built. People go to prison. Your report — even if it feels pointless — is the thing that makes all of that happen.

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1. Report the phone number to Ofcom

The number is still on your phone. Report it to Ofcom and it can be suspended. The listing stays on Google Maps — but nobody can call it. The operation stops dead. This is the single most effective action you can take.

Report to Ofcom →

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2. Report the Google ad or listing

Click the three dots on the sponsored ad and select Report this ad. On the Maps listing click Report a Problem. Submit the Google Redressal Form. Every report makes the listing harder to sustain and builds the case for permanent removal.

Report the listing →

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3. Leave a one star review — on everything

Leave a one star review on the Google Maps listing describing exactly what happened — the amount quoted, the amount charged, what the operative did. Then search the phone number on Google — they may have listings on Trustpilot, Checkatrade, Yell, or other directories. Leave a one star review on every platform you find them on. The more negative reviews — the more people are protected.

Search Trustpilot →

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4. Search the phone number online

Type the phone number you called into Google — with and without spaces. Rogue operators use the same number across multiple listings under different company names. You may find five or ten different listings all using the same number. Report every single one. Leave a review on every single one. Each report multiplies the impact of your action.

Search the number →

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Report the VAT number

Report pricing fraud →

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6. Tell everyone you know

Post on Nextdoor. Share on Facebook. Tell your neighbours. Send this website to anyone who might need a locksmith. The more people who know how to spot a fake listing — the fewer victims these operators get. One share could save someone near you from the same experience.

Share on WhatsApp →

These operators are more traceable than they think

The phone number they used routes through a telecoms provider. That provider knows exactly where incoming calls are being terminated — which server, which IP address, which country. Once Ofcom identifies the provider, that termination point is the thread that leads directly to the call centre. The payment card used to buy the number subscription traces to a real bank account. The Google or Apple account used to download the app traces to a registered identity.

They are not untraceable. They are just uninvestigated. Every report you make brings an investigation closer. The numbers going dead across west London right now — that happened because enough people reported them. Your report is not pointless. It is evidence.

The law — what these operators are breaking

Fake locksmith listings break multiple UK laws simultaneously. This is not a grey area.

Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 — Schedule 20

Fabricated reviews have been illegal in the UK since April 2025. Commissioning fake reviews is illegal. Publishing fake reviews is illegal. Hosting fake reviews without taking reasonable steps to prevent them is illegal. Every fake five star review on a fake locksmith listing is evidence of a specific criminal offence.

Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

Quoting one price on the phone and charging a significantly higher price at the door is a misleading commercial practice. Trading Standards can prosecute under these regulations. Fines and criminal records can result.

UK GDPR Article 17 — Right to Erasure

Every fake listing uses a real address — belonging to a real resident or business — without their consent. Publishing someone's address without their permission is unlawful processing of personal data. The address owner can demand removal within 30 days. Google must comply.

Fraud Act 2006

Making a false representation to obtain a financial advantage — quoting £49 and charging £370 — is fraud under the Fraud Act 2006. This is a criminal offence carrying up to 10 years imprisonment.

Communications Act 2003

Using virtual phone numbers for fraudulent purposes is a breach of Ofcom's General Conditions. Ofcom can direct telecoms providers to suspend numbers being used for fraud immediately.

Report to HMRC

Was VAT charged on your invoice?

If a rogue locksmith charged you VAT — that VAT number on the invoice deserves serious scrutiny. Many rogue operators either charge VAT without being registered, or collect VAT and never remit it to HMRC. Both are serious criminal offences.

Charging VAT without being VAT registered

A business must be VAT registered to charge VAT. If a locksmith charges you VAT but is not on the HMRC VAT register — that is a criminal offence under the Value Added Tax Act 1994. You can check any VAT number at gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number. If the number does not exist or does not match the company — report it to HMRC immediately.

Collecting VAT and not paying it to HMRC

If the VAT number is genuine but the operation is issuing hundreds of inflated invoices with VAT and never declaring that income to HMRC — that is tax fraud on a significant scale. A company collecting £96.80 VAT per job across hundreds of jobs per year owes HMRC tens of thousands of pounds. HMRC has powers to investigate, freeze accounts, and pursue directors personally.

How to check a VAT number

If your invoice includes a VAT number — check it immediately at the HMRC VAT checker. Enter the number and the company name. If they do not match — or if the number does not exist — that is evidence of fraud.

Check a VAT number at gov.uk →

Report VAT fraud to HMRC

You can report anonymously. HMRC takes VAT fraud very seriously — especially where a pattern of invoices shows systematic non-payment. Your report adds to the evidence.

Report online at gov.uk → 📞 0800 788 887

HMRC Fraud Hotline — free to call — anonymous reporting accepted

Sign the Parliamentary Petition

Strengthen rules against scam emergency trade adverts.

Closes 10 September 2026 — needs 10,000 signatures for a Government response.

Sign the Petition →

Make your voice heard in Parliament

Write to your MP — it costs nothing and it matters

The locksmith industry is completely unregulated in the UK. Anyone can call themselves a locksmith and advertise without any qualification, licence, or DBS check. Parliament has the power to change this. But MPs only act when enough of their constituents tell them there is a problem.

Why writing to your MP works

Every letter is logged

MPs track constituent correspondence by topic. Enough letters on locksmith scams and it becomes a priority issue for them to raise in Parliament.

MPs can ask questions in the House

A parliamentary question to the Minister for Fraud and Scams about unregulated locksmith advertising puts the issue on the official record and forces a ministerial response.

No licence required to be a locksmith

Unlike electricians, gas engineers, and plumbers — locksmiths have no mandatory licensing in the UK. Your MP may not even know this. Tell them.

Takes five minutes

Find your MP and send the letter below. You do not need to be eloquent. A brief personal account of what happened to you is more powerful than any campaign letter.

Step 1 — Find your MP

Enter your postcode at WriteToThem.com — it finds your MP and lets you send a message directly. Free. Takes two minutes.

Find your MP at WriteToThem.com →

Or go directly to members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Step 2 — Copy and send this letter

Personalise it with your own experience where shown in brackets. The more specific your personal account the more impact it has.

Dear [MP Name],

I am writing to you as your constituent to raise a matter of serious consumer harm that I believe requires urgent attention in Parliament.

I was recently the victim of a locksmith scam. I searched for a locksmith on Google, called what appeared to be a local business with five star reviews, and was quoted [£XX] on the phone. When the operative arrived he [drilled my lock unnecessarily / charged me far more than quoted / billed me under a completely different company name] and I ended up paying [£XX]. I [have / have not] been able to recover this money.

What I have since discovered is that this is not an isolated incident. Locksmith scam complaints rose 147% in the first three months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, according to locksmith trade associations. Victims across the UK have been charged hundreds or thousands of pounds above quoted prices by rogue operators who advertise using fake Google Maps listings, fabricated reviews, and anonymous virtual phone numbers that route to overseas call centres.

The core problem is that the locksmith industry is completely unregulated in the UK. Unlike electricians, gas engineers, and plumbers — who are required to hold recognised qualifications and register with approved bodies — anyone can call themselves a locksmith and advertise without any qualification, licence, or DBS check. This has allowed a coordinated network of rogue operators to flood Google Maps and Google paid advertising with fake listings, making it almost impossible for consumers to identify a genuine local locksmith.

I am asking you to raise the following with the Minister for Fraud and Scams and the Department for Business and Trade:

First — will the government commit to introducing mandatory licensing for locksmith businesses in the UK, as recommended by locksmith trade associations?

Second — will the government work with Ofcom to introduce licensed phone numbers for emergency trade advertising, so that any number used to advertise locksmith services must be verified, traceable, and tied to a named, DBS-checked individual?

Third — will the CMA use its powers under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 to require Google to verify locksmith listings before they go live — as Google already does in Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain?

The laws to address this exist. The Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 makes fabricated reviews illegal. The Online Safety Act 2023 gives Ofcom powers over fraudulent platform content. What is missing is the political will to enforce them against one of the world's largest companies on behalf of consumers who are being defrauded daily.

I would be grateful for your response and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further if helpful.

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Add your personal story

The template above is a starting point. Replace the bracketed sections with your own specific experience — the amount you were quoted, the amount you were charged, what happened at the door. A personal account from a real constituent is far more powerful than a form letter. MPs respond to stories from the people they represent.

Share this with other victims

If you know other people who have been affected — share this page with them. The more constituents who write to their MP about this issue, the faster it gets raised in Parliament. One letter is a complaint. A hundred letters is a political issue.

⏰ Deadline 2 October 2026 — Act now

Tell Ofcom what happened to you — your response matters

Ofcom has published a major consultation on fraudulent advertising — and they want to hear from members of the public who have been affected. If you were scammed by a fake locksmith listing, called a virtual phone number, or were shown a fake Google ad — your experience is exactly what Ofcom needs to hear. The consultation closes on 2 October 2026.

Why this consultation matters

£18 million or 10% of revenue

The maximum fine Google faces if it fails to comply with the new codes. Your response helps build the evidence that justifies that fine.

Nearly 40 new measures proposed

Ofcom wants to require platforms to ban bad actors, block re-registration, and verify advertisers. Public responses shape how tough these measures are.

£200 million lost every year

Ofcom's own estimate of what UK consumers lose to fraudulent online advertising annually. Your case is part of that £200 million.

How to submit your response — two ways

📝 Online response form — ofcom.org.uk/draft-fraudulent-advertising-codes-response-form → 📧 Email — cat1additionalduties@ofcom.org.uk →

You do not need to answer every question. You can respond to just the sections relevant to your experience. A short personal account of what happened to you is more valuable than a lengthy technical response.

What to write in your response — a simple guide

Copy and adapt this template. Fill in your own details where shown in brackets. You can submit it anonymously.

I am responding as a member of the public who has been directly affected by fraudulent locksmith advertising on Google.

[If applicable: I was charged £[amount] by a locksmith I found through a Google [sponsored ad / Maps listing]. I was quoted £[quote] on the phone. The listing had five star reviews and a local address — both were fake.]

I want to draw Ofcom's attention to three specific issues with the draft Fraudulent Advertising Codes of Practice:

1. Scope must cover Google Maps organic listings. The draft code covers paid-for advertising only. But fake locksmith listings on Google Maps are organic listings — not paid ads — and they cause identical harm to consumers. The consumer cannot tell the difference between a paid ad and an organic listing. Both should be covered.

2. Virtual phone numbers must be banned from home service advertising. Every fake locksmith listing I am aware of uses a virtual phone number — purchased anonymously with no identity check. Ofcom should require that any phone number used on a home service listing must be a static landline registered to a physical address in the area being advertised. Virtual phone numbers and geographic landlines never share the same number ranges — Ofcom's own database can verify this instantly.

3. Platforms must verify numbers before activating listings. Search platforms should be required to check that any phone number on a home service listing is a verified geographic landline before the listing goes live. This single requirement would eliminate the vast majority of fake listings overnight.

I urge Ofcom to strengthen the draft codes to cover organic listings as well as paid ads, and to require static landline verification for all home service advertising on Google and other platforms.

Important — the draft code currently does NOT cover Google Maps organic listings

This is the most important point to make in your response. The draft code applies specifically to paid-for advertising content on the largest platforms — it does not extend to user-generated content or non-sponsored search results. That gap must be closed. Tell Ofcom that organic Maps listings cause exactly the same harm as paid ads and must be covered by the same rules.