Internet locksmith scams present major threat to security - who knew?

Dune Lawrence at Bloomberg News has written an article which I saw via Cory Doctrow's article at BoingBoing and it turns out that the widespread, spamming-fake-locksmith scams could be an even more serious security issue because the techniques used to hijack entire markets of legitimate locksmiths can also be used to hijack, say, the local Secret Service office.

We all know that these pervasive scams have been a serious security issue for almost a decade now and it's pretty sad that the same old story is still news to some - but at least it's not going unnoticed and it is being reframed and escalated via fresh channels.

That said, there's no better time to redouble our efforts to bring this issue to the forefront of the national consciousness.

REPORT scammers!  This problem is not going away unless we make it go away and there's nothing like a history of willful disregard to make future charges stick.  Make sure we've got that history.

EDUCATE the public.  Talk to your customers and your friends and your mailman and your Grandma. Bring it up at the game and at the backyard BBQ.  Think about all those folks who always want your Professional Advice for Free - have you got a deal for them!

COMMISERATE with your peers.  No matter how futile it feels, if we combine our voices we will make a cacophonous racket!  There are literally more of us than there are of them by a factor of hundreds-if-not-thousands; we need only stand together to be heard.

And what better place to commiserate and stand together with your fellow locksmith than the monthly meeting of your local association?  The MN Chapter of ALOA meets the first Wednesday of every month, September through June at Grumpy's Bar in Roseville.  Details here.

You do not have to be a member of the chapter to attend up to 2 meetings a year.

You do not have to be sponsored or RSVP to attend a meeting.

April Meeting Minutes

Click to view April Meeting Minutes 

Bob Fuller

We are saddened that Bob Fuller from USA Central Station passed away last weekend.

From the Star Tribune, April 2:

Robert D. "Bob" Fuller, Age 85, of Mendota Heights, passed away peacefully March 30, 2014. Celebration of life Wed., April 16 at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, visitation 9 AM, service 10 AM. Memorials preferred to the Robert D. Fuller Communications Scholarship at St. Cloud State or Allina Hospice. 

Bob was an Associate Member of the Minnesota locksmith association and a true friend of the chapter's; he was always ready with something nice to say and his lightheartedness was so welcome and will be so missed.

April Meeting Summary

Spring is struggling to convince us of its honorable intentions here in Minnesota but locksmiths continue to emerge from hibernation in growing numbers in spite of being disappointed time and time again.  We had an attendance of more than 20 regular members at the April meeting - our first in the new location at Grumpy's in Roseville.

The new meeting site is very nice - the room is agreeable and quiet, we have what amounts to private restrooms and bar right down the hall, and there is an elevator so even though we are in the basement, it's not much of a liability.  Plus, the fish & chips is out of this world.

Dinner is a flat $15 for anything (Juicy Lucy, Veggie Burger, Fish & Chips... there was something else, but I've forgotten it) - but there was a coupon on in the Locksmith Guild newsletter this month, so keep your eye out, they may do it again.

We were very pleased to welcome Gene and Maita Simon for the education portion of the evening.  Gene is the Hardware Specialist and represents Major Manufacturing, LAB, and JET Hardware - on this particular evening he presented the latest and greatest from Major Manufacturing.

Full education recap below the page break.