We want to make our patients and the wider Point Cook community aware of a scam currently doing the rounds on social media and search platforms. Fake ads are promising free dental implants, "implant grants", or cash payments for undergoing implant treatment. Practices across Australia and overseas have reported the same pattern, and the ads can look surprisingly polished and local.
What's Actually Going On¶
These ads are not placed by The Point Dental, and they are not placed by any genuine dental practice. Behind them are lead-generation operators and scammers whose real aim is your contact details. Once you fill in a form, your name, phone number, and email are typically on-sold, and the spam calls and pushy sales pitches follow. In some versions of the scam, people are later told they "qualify" for a grant but must pay thousands of dollars towards the rest of the treatment, which ends up costing more than it would at a reputable practice.
It is also worth knowing that there is no Australian government grant scheme for dental implants. Any ad suggesting otherwise is misleading you.
Warning Signs to Look For¶
- Big promises, no detail. Free implants, grant funding, or "limited programs" with no explanation of who is behind them or how they work.
- No practice named. A real clinic will always show its name, address, and phone number. Scam ads and landing pages usually name nobody.
- Your details demanded upfront. Forms wanting your phone number and email before you have any idea who you are dealing with.
- It sounds too good to be true. Implant treatment involves skilled clinicians, quality materials, and careful planning. Nobody gives that away.
Keeping Yourself Safe¶
- If an ad claims any connection to The Point Dental, ring us on our published number and check before you respond to it.
- Hold onto your personal and financial details until you have confirmed exactly who you are dealing with.
- Use the reporting tools on Facebook, Instagram, and Google to flag dodgy ads when you spot them.
How to Check What Ads We Are Actually Running¶
Facebook keeps a public record of every ad a page is running, called the Ad Library. Anyone can check it, no account needed. If you ever see an ad claiming to be from The Point Dental, here is how to verify it:
- Go to facebook.com/ads/library.
- Set the country to Australia and search The Point Dental.
- Select our page in the results. You will see every ad we are currently running.
If an ad you have seen does not appear there, it did not come from us. When in doubt, call our Point Cook practice directly and we will confirm.
Where We Stand¶
The Point Dental will never advertise free implants, implant grants, or payment-for-treatment schemes, and no marketing of that kind is run on our behalf. If you see an offer using our name, treat it as fake.
If you are considering implant treatment and want a straight answer about what is involved and what it costs, contact our Point Cook practice directly. We would much rather you hear it from us than from a scammer.