Since the beginning of 2020, private practice dentists and dental service organizations have had to be cautious of an influx in hacking schemes. While some practices have been targeted over the phone, some organizations have been the victims of phishing attacks.
Here are five scams that are targeting dentists:
1. The Illinois Board of Dentistry is warning local dentists about a telephone scam in which people are "spoofing" the phone numbers to make it look like dentists are receiving calls from the dental board. When a dentist answers the phone, the scammers are demanding money and other information.
2. The Dental Board of California is warning dentists to be cautious of scammers posing as board members to obtain information or demand money from them.
3. Dallas-based Jefferson Dental Care Healthcare Management began notifying 45,748 patients Feb. 7 of a phishing attack that may have exposed their protected health information.
4. The Iowa Dental Board reported a problem with scammers earlier this year. The dental board has also reminded dentists that they will never call dentists with demands for money or information.
5. A member of the American Dental Association received a phishing email from an address containing the ADA president's name and a link to view "membership details," the organization said March 2.