Take Action â Social Media
A Trading Standards report goes into a file. A social media post reaches your neighbours in real time. Both matter. Here is how to warn others effectively on Nextdoor, Facebook, Reddit, and Mumsnet â and how to report fake Google listings.
Nextdoor
Reaches every verified neighbour
Indexed by Google â permanent record
7726
Text scam number â free, reports to Ofcom
3 dots
Flag fake Google review â tap the three dots
Nextdoor
Post in your neighbourhood group with the company name, the phone number, and what happened. Nextdoor posts reach every verified neighbour in your area. Include the link locksmithscams.co.uk so they can check the database.
Facebook local groups
Find your local community group. Post with the specific company name and phone number. Name the listing. Give the phone number. Say what happened. Link to the database. Facebook posts in local groups are highly visible and shared widely.
Post on r/LegalAdviceUK, r/UKPersonalFinance, or r/Scams. Include company name, phone number, amount quoted, amount charged. Reddit posts are indexed by Google and remain accessible for years.
Mumsnet
Post in your local site or the main forum. Mumsnet threads rank well in Google and stay active for months. A warning post on Mumsnet can protect hundreds of people over a long period.
Include all of these â the more specific the more useful
The company name exactly as it appeared in the Google listing
The company name on the invoice â if different
The phone number you called
The amount quoted on the phone
The amount actually charged
The area and postcode
The link to locksmithscams.co.uk so people can check the database
On the Google Maps listing
Scroll down and tap Report a problem â This place does not exist OR The information is wrong. Select the most appropriate reason.
On each fake review
Tap the three dots next to the review â Report review â Fake or spam. Report every fabricated review individually.
Text the number to 7726
Free from any UK mobile. Reports the number to your network provider and Ofcom. Enough reports gets the number blocked at network level.
Report to the CMA
Under the DMCCA 2024 fake reviews are a criminal offence. Report systematic fake review patterns at gov.uk/cma.
Been overcharged by a locksmith?
Call your bank immediately. Trading Standards: 0808 223 1133. Report Fraud: reportfraud.police.uk.
How to get your money back âlocksmithscams.co.uk â independent public interest resource â not affiliated with any organisation. View the full bad actors database â