Go to bsis.ca.gov, click Verify a License, and enter the company name or license number. If it does not show Active, do not let them touch your lock.
The FTC warns that locksmith scams are among the most common home service fraud in the country. An unlicensed operator shows up, drills your lock unnecessarily, then charges $300 to $500 for a $75 job. California requires every locksmith to hold a BSIS license, but most people never check. Verification takes 60 seconds on your phone.
How to Check a California Locksmith License
Go to bsis.ca.gov and click "Verify a License." Enter the company name or license number. For West Bay Locksmith Services, our license is LCO8530. The lookup shows the license status (Active or Inactive), the issue date, and any disciplinary actions. If the locksmith cannot give you a license number, or if the number does not show up as Active on the BSIS website, do not let them touch your lock. This takes 60 seconds on your phone while you wait for the tech to arrive. Every legitimate locksmith in California will have their BSIS license number displayed on their website, business card, and invoice.
Red Flags That Signal a Scam Locksmith
They answer the phone with a generic name like "Local Locksmith Services" instead of a real business name. They cannot provide a BSIS license number when you ask. They quote $35 or $50 on the phone — unrealistically cheap — then charge $300 or more on-site after drilling your lock. They arrive in an unmarked vehicle with no company branding. They drill the lock immediately instead of trying to pick it — drilling is a last resort, not a first step. They demand cash only and cannot provide a printed invoice. We see the aftermath of these scams regularly in Santa Rosa and Petaluma. A homeowner on Stony Point Road called us after a scam operator drilled her Schlage deadbolt, charged $400, and installed a $12 replacement lock from the hardware store.
What a Legitimate Locksmith Looks Like
Branded vehicle with company name and phone number. BSIS license number on the website and invoice. Flat-rate quote on the phone before dispatch. Attempts non-destructive entry before drilling. Provides a printed or emailed receipt. Carries real hardware — Schlage, Kwikset, Medeco — not loose locks from a plastic bag. West Bay Locksmith Services holds BSIS License #LCO8530, carries $1,000,000 liability insurance, and quotes flat-rate pricing before anyone drives out. Our vans are branded, our techs carry ID, and every invoice includes our license number.
What to Do If You Got Scammed
File a complaint with the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) at bsis.ca.gov. File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Leave a detailed review on Google and Yelp so other people in your area see the warning. If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge with your card issuer. Then call a licensed locksmith to replace whatever the scam operator installed — it is probably cheap hardware that provides almost no security. Call (707) 775-7069 if you need a legitimate repair after a scam locksmith visit.