In a disturbing trend, scammers have been masquerading as dentists, targeting individuals eager for much-needed NHS appointments.
These fraudsters have been exploiting desperate patients seeking NHS dental care. But how does this elaborate scam operate, and what makes victims susceptible to such deception?
Using the identity of a legitimate dentist, these con artists have encouraged unsuspecting victims to pay upfront for dental treatments, only to vanish with their hard-earned money.
Among those affected is Laura from Martham, Norfolk, who shared her harrowing experience with the BBC. She recounted paying £100 to the scammers, a decision that her father also made, illustrating that this threat is pervasive across England.
Steve Marsling, a representative from Toothless in Suffolk—a group advocating for improved access to NHS dental care—denounced the scammers as “disgusting,” underscoring the moral depravity of exploiting vulnerable individuals.
How does the scam work?
In their malicious tactics, the scammers have specifically targeted individuals eager to secure an appointment with an NHS dentist.
They strategically utilize Facebook community groups to promote links to their fabricated Facebook page and website.
Typical posts herald “exciting news,” claiming assistance for those struggling to connect with a dental practice.
Desperate patients are lured into paying for appointments available as early as January.
Victims are assured that their payment will “automatically” register them as NHS patients.
Pricing ranges from £26 for a “NHS Band 1 appointment” to an astonishing £319 for a “NHS Band 3 appointment.”
During the booking process, a form requesting payment details is activated, allowing the scammers to siphon off funds.
However, unsuspecting victims soon discover there is no actual dental surgery or practitioner affiliated with this fraudulent setup.
An investigation by the BBC unveiled a Facebook account and linked website operating under the guise of “The Dental Surgery,” which is truly a façade.
Alarmingly, the advertised locations have repeatedly changed within a matter of weeks, further complicating efforts to track the fraudsters.
Attempts to contact the telephone numbers listed were met with silence, leaving potential victims in the lurch.
Who has fallen victim to the scam?
Exploiting the widespread scarcity of NHS dentists, these fraudsters have targeted communities in Norfolk, Essex, Suffolk, Devon, Merseyside, and County Durham.
Trading Standards in Lincolnshire confirmed the presence of fraudulent activities in their jurisdiction as well.
Laura, 39, recounted her nine-year struggle to find an NHS dentist, driving her to swiftly seize the opportunity that ultimately led to her financial loss.
After paying £100 for her own appointment and also signing her father up, Laura’s skepticism began to surface.
“I consulted the NHS website and could not locate the dental practice; I researched online and realized this might not be legitimate,” she stated.
She was fortunate enough to recover her lost funds through her bank, while her father remained out of pocket.
How have the scammers tricked people?
The scammers have meticulously crafted their online presence to appear credible at first glance.
For instance, a chatbot on their site erroneously provides information for a dental practice in Hellesdon, Norfolk, instead of the purported location in Shildon, County Durham.
Their deceptive website includes a fake Care Quality Commission (CQC) certificate, fraudulently listing a dentist who has since claimed no affiliation with the scam.
The unwitting dentist, operating in the West of England and choosing to remain anonymous, reported that his likeness and credentials had been misappropriated.
“I’ve had calls from people I don’t know, asking me for money back,” he lamented.
“My reputation is built on trust, and having my image and name used on a fake website is damaging.”
“I have no idea why I and my other staff have been targeted.”
Significantly, the impersonated CQC certificate also references a care home company that is currently in administration.
The site includes information about NHS registration appropriated from a legitimate dental practice in Ipswich.
Furthermore, the logos utilized on their Facebook page and website belong to an established surgery in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, which has expressly stated it bears no association with the fraudulent operations.
Facebook’s “page transparency” feature has also shown the evolving names used by the scammers, revealing their deceitful tactics.
‘They have no moral fibre’
Steve Marsling has been vocal about the catastrophic consequences of these scams, sharing personal anecdotes of individuals resorting to extreme measures due to untreated dental issues.
He highlighted that many have turned to alcohol to dull tooth pain or have taken the drastic step of extracting their own teeth, driven by the inaccessibility of NHS dental care.
Marsling noted the dire situation compels many to scrape together funds, even though they cannot afford private care, making them easy targets for the scammers.
“They will find a way to gather the money; that’s why they haven’t gone private,” he explained.
He readily condemned the scammers’ selfish actions, stating: “If it’s lucrative, they’ll do it, because they have no moral fibre, do they?”
“Who would exploit a vulnerable individual? It’s despicable.”
What do organisations say?
Norfolk Trading Standards issued a warning regarding a bogus website and Facebook page allegedly offering NHS dental slots in the Hellesdon area of Norwich.
“We are currently looking into this, and have been unable to identify any legitimate business connected with the provided information,” a representative confirmed.
The spokesperson for NHS Mid and South Essex urged residents to utilize the official NHS Find a Dentist platform for current listings of dental practices accepting new NHS patients.
The CQC affirmed that its registration team is investigating the issue thoroughly.
Action Fraud, the designated national resource for reporting fraud and cybercrime, confirmed that the case is currently under review by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau at the City of London Police.
Despite ongoing reports, the BBC found that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has not yet removed the scam’s Facebook page, which remains active.
Meta stated that it does not tolerate fraudulent activities on its platforms and is cooperating with law enforcement to combat the proliferation of scams online.
Listen: Open wide for a dental scam
L keep doing it. They have no moral fibre whatsoever. It’s truly despicable to exploit people who are already in distress.”
The overall context highlights the desperation and vulnerability of individuals attempting to access NHS dental services, a situation exacerbated by a shortage of providers. The combination of online deception, the cloning of legitimate dental practices, and the emotional strain of those in pain creates an ideal environment for fraudsters to thrive.
Authorities are urged to raise awareness among the public about these scams and to provide guidance on how to verify the legitimacy of dental practices. Education, vigilance, and proper reporting channels are essential to combat this growing threat and protect vulnerable individuals from financial and emotional harm.
