Fighting Fraud
Editor: I think every locksmith company that is still in business would like to stop this fraud in the locksmith industry. I wish other locksmiths nationwide would try to offer facts and details and intelligent solutions.
Google appears to be the promoter of this fraud. It was first though they were spammed. This fraud is a consumer bait and switch fraud. The fraud involves trade name infringements, telecommunications fraud, tax reporting fraud, immigrations passport violations,
The Postal Inspector in Florida has provided all of the details of the nationwide fraud in a court affidavit, shown on the Internet. Search for Dependable Locksmith Clearwater FL arrests.
It is clear that no Government agencies other than this one Postal Inspector, will try to stop this fraud. Even the FBI said on National Public Radio that they think the fraud is "not big enough" to get involved.
A solution to ending or slowing down this fraud would be for individual locksmiths to file a court injunction to stop Google from putting any "low ball" $12 $15 dollar amount in front of business names or any percentage off in front of or inside the listings of these fake business names.
It seems like most attorneys do not want to file a claim against Google because Google attorneys will flood them with paper work they are forced to fill out, answering hundreds of tricky complex legal questions. But if someone finds an attorney interested, please list the name in the magazine.
So the best solution may be to find a paralegal and have them help type out the injunction form and file the form at the federal court house. ($150 fee). Include a print out of the Postal Inspectors Affidavit explaining the fraud.
Another idea - Include a request in the "injunction request" to force Google to list only addresses on the "Locksmith" map listings of locksmiths with a State Tax ID number which is what most locksmiths that are in business have. Or simply remove all of the address locations on Google maps "Locksmith" since 90 percent are fake.
Locksmith Licensing laws haven’t stopped the fraud in any state, or Google from advertising fraud listings in any state that has the license.
Doug Denver
Via email
Locks for ‘Honest People’
Editor: I must disagree with your comment that locks are for honest people. I read your article and agress with almost all of it. Locks are made for thieves;, honest people don't even try to get into something that they are not supposed to open.
Joe Clements
Editor:
I was amazed about the quote “locks are for honest people” that appears in your notes from the editor are the same ones I have been telling my customers for years, of course in Spanish. I also tell them depending on the protection you need there is a lock for it, or an electronic device to help in the task of protecting you belongings but if someone wants to get in and have the skills for it will go in, we just make it harder. There is a story about this rich merchant that protected his house with all electronics and locks devices so no one could get near the safe in his room, he got rob, he forgot to secure the roof.
Eduardo E. Arango S.
Editor’s Response: I guess it is like saying, "is the glass half full or half empty?". My point is that if an honest person sees a locked door, they go the other way. A thief may have other plans. Always good to hear from you.- Gale Johnson
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