Urgent warning over ‘convincing’ fake NHS dentist website that ‘steals your personal details and cash’
A “CONVINCING” fake NHS dentist website is stealing people’s personal details and money, officials have warned.
The scam site uses the health service’s logo and branding but has no affiliation with it.
It promises to “find and book appointments with local providers” across the UK if users pay upfront for slots.
However, it could leave users out of pocket and at risk of fraud.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “This website is a scam.
“Patients will never be asked for money upfront before booking an NHS dental appointment, and people can find an official NHS dentist using our website.”
A dentist, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “This isn’t a real NHS website, you won’t get a real appointment, and practices aren’t affiliated with it.
“You’ll have your details and money stolen.”
The website, nhs-dentist.co.uk, claims to have booked 35,000 appointments through its “extensive national network of dentists”.
It first asks users to complete a form detailing whether they need a check-up, hygiene clean or emergency appointment, if they want it through the NHS or privately, and where in the UK they are based.
A calendar of dates and times then appears, with slots available in the coming days.
Users are then told to provide their personal details, including their full name, date of birth, postcode, email address and phone number, before making payment.
The dodgy website states that NHS appointments cost £35, and private ones are £120.
“All sales are final and no refund will be issued,” nhs-dentist.co.uk, which has no phone number and is registered to an address in North West London, says.
However, NHS practices are forbidden from taking any upfront payments and dental appointments are divided into three charge bands:
- Band 1: £26.80
- Band 2: £73.50
- Band 3: £319.10
An urgent appointment costs £26.80.
A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “Our attention has been brought to a concern relating to a scam dental appointment booking website.
“We understand that some patients seeking NHS dental care have booked and paid for appointments via this website and have been allocated what they have been told is an NHS dental appointment at a local dental practice.
“Please be aware that NHS dentists will never ask you for advanced online payments on dental work.
“If you think you may have been affected, please contact your bank for urgent advice and support.”
How to find an NHS dentist
THERE are around 11,000 independent dental practices in England, providing both NHS and private care.
You can find your closest using this NHS search tool.
However, not all NHS surgeries will be able to take on new patients, and you may have to join a waiting list, find your next nearest or be seen privately.
If you think you need urgent care, contact your usual dentist.
However, if they can’t see you at short notice, you can contact NHS 111.
Do not call your GP. And only visit A&E in serious circumstances, such as for injuries to the face, mouth or teeth, and severe or increasing swelling in the mouth, throat or neck which makes it difficult to breathe, swallow or speak.
Source: NHS
A spokesperson for Healthwatch Trafford, a health and social care champion in the area, added: “Don’t get caught out.
“Patients may have seen a website advertising NHS dental services, using a logo very similar to the NHS logo and offering urgent treatment.
“While the webpage may look convincing, please be aware that this is a scam and not a genuine service.
“Do not use this website to try and access NHS dental care.”
For more advice, visit the National Cyber Security Centre website or contact Action Fraud.
How to protect yourself from scams
BY keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid getting caught up in a scam:
- Firstly, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it normally is.
- Check brands are “verified” on Facebook and Twitter pages – this means the company will have a blue tick on its profile.
- Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
- If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
- To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
- Be careful when opening email attachments too. Fraudsters are increasingly attaching files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, which contain dangerous malware.
- If you receive a suspicious message then report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
- If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online fraud reporting tool.