Trading Standards have sent out a warning about a scam dentist in County Durham that conned desperate patients out of hundreds as they investigate complaints. 

The Trading Standards team at Durham County Council has received five complaints about social media posts claiming a new dentist is opening with NHS places in Shildon, and asking people to prepay for appointments. 

The supposed new venture, The Dental Practice, is on a premises that once housed a genuine dental practice.

Posts on the scammers' now-deleted Facebook page show a new waiting room and even comment on new modern additions complimenting the building’s 1800s heritage.

The posts state there is some urgency, as they are only accepting new customers within a short window of time.

A spokesperson for the Council said: "An option to call the surgery is given with the usual fallback of an internet registration option. This is where the scammers want you to go, as they can ask for what would seem like normal details: your personal information and payment details."

Trading Standards officers carried out various checks as soon as they became aware of the scam, including visiting the address given and finding it empty. They also checked with the General Dental Practice and NHS. A website claiming to be that of the new dentist has been taken down.

Ian Harrison, our business compliance manager, said: “We are aware that scams such as this are happening across the country. The scammers will have been aware of reports of people being unable to find NHS dentists and there is a shortage of appointments and will have seen this as an opportunity to exploit people and part them from their money.

“Not just this time of year but all year round, scammers will try to prey on members of the public in order to try to get their hard-earned money. Scams come in many shapes and forms but usually follow similar formats. They often centre around a popular subject, product or service and create a time pressure to make people think they have to act quickly.

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“We would ask that people think very carefully before disclosing private information or banking details to any company, or organisation, that they are not familiar with.”

Anyone who has been a victim of the post is advised to contact their bank or building society to make them aware of the scam.

They can freeze or cancel your bank cards and seek to recover what money they can, but more importantly stop any further payments being taken, whilst also issuing a new card.