If you've been scammed by a fake locksmith, don't just take it – take action! Report to: The Better Business Bureau. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
There is no such thing as getting a refund from a scam. If you were able to do this then scammer wouldn't be scamming people. If you used your credit or debit card to make an online purchase through a secure checkout and you didn't receive the item then you can file a chargeback with your bank.
How to get a refund from the locksmith or your payment provider. Get in touch with the provider if you paid on a credit card, as they may be able to help. Your payment provider will need proof you've been overcharged – this is why it's important to contact an MLA-approved locksmith for estimated pricing.
Contact your bank and tell them it was an unauthorized debit or withdrawal. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a scam or fraud scheme, report it to ic3.gov, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
When you report a scam to the FTC, investigators use your information to build cases against scammers. Other law enforcement agencies can see the reports, too, and use them to further their own investigations. Your story makes a difference.
In some cases, your local police will be able to help track down scammers — for example, if you've lost money or know anything about the scammer. To file a police report, you'll need: Your FTC report. Personal identification in the form of a driver's license, Social Security card, or passport.
The scammer may wait months before asking for money. The con artist convinces the victim that they are in a deep and committed relationship during a painstaking grooming period that can last many months.
Through a chargeback, your bank can try to get your money back from the seller on your behalf it isn't a legal right, but your bank is committed to helping you, and will treat any claim fairly.
The answer to your question is yes. There is a breach of contract here since you paid for keys that don't work.
Each state sets its own laws about business insurance, including locksmith liability coverage. This means that you may or may not need to carry a policy to operate in your state. However, we always recommend general liability insurance.
When selecting a locksmith, you must make sure the locksmith company is registered with the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA). MLA-approved locksmiths have been vetted, inspected and are qualified locksmiths. Additional accreditations are further signs that you will receive a quality locksmith service.
You can apply for compensation for some, or all, of your loss, depending on the circumstances of the case. It's up to the court to decide whether to grant you compensation and the amount you'll get.
Police handle only crimes in their jurisdiction, so they likely won't investigate online fraud. However, cases of online credit card fraud may be upgraded to a federal agency if the crime technically crosses state lines.
Report a Scam to the FTC
If you experienced a scam — or even spotted one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Check out what's going on in your state or metro area by visiting ftc.gov/exploredata.
If the money wasn't downloaded by the scammer, some companies will give the money back. Open a dispute with the payment app: If you sent funds to a scammer via a payment app like Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle, you can try and dispute the transaction with the payment app company directly.
What is Section 75? It's part of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 that means your credit card provider is jointly and severally responsible for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by a retailer or trader.
Remember, the reward is between 15 and 25 percent of what the government actually collects. Because there are risks for reporting fraud against the government, you should talk to an attorney experienced with reward cases before you blow the whistle and report fraud.
Contact your bank or payment provider straight away. Let them know what happened and ask if you can get a refund. It's important to help them while they look at your claim - make sure you give them any information they ask for.
REPORT THE SCAM.
While agencies can't always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
If you're successful, the credit card company will refund the amount you sent to a scammer. This process can take anywhere from a little over a week to as long as 90 business days to resolve.
The FTC uses reports like yours to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices. When you submit your report, we'll offer you next steps you can take to protect yourself or recover from fraud.