KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An NBC Action News investigation into fraud by locksmiths in Kansas City and St. Louis has led to a Kansas City-area man facing state criminal charges.
Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office investigated Dependable Locks of Tampa, Fla., after learning of fraudulent advertising that claimed testimonials from customers who had not actually received services.
The investigation eventually included federal authorities.
A national network of at least 100 locksmith technicians, in cities across the U.S., had dispatchers quote $54 prices for unlocking customers’ cars, only to have technicians charge up to $179 for the service once they were on site.
Federal authorities also say many of the employees of Dependable Locks are either illegal aliens or are on visas that do not permit them to work as locksmith technicians.
Consumers with complaints can call the Attorney General's Consumer Complaint hotline at 800-392-8222, or go to the
attorney general Web site to file complaints.
U.S. Postal Inspectors have established a hotline for those believing they are victims of this scheme. Customers can leave contact information to trigger an investigative response at 314-539-9441.
Yosef Amitay of Overland Park, Kan., is charged with two counts of unlawful merchandising practices. The counts are class D felonies, carrying a maximum penalty of four years in prison.
Also charged in the case are Eliyahu Barhanun of Creve Coeur, Mo., and David Peer and Moshe Aharoni of Clearwater, Fla.
