FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact:

Kayla Camarillo

[email protected]

Phone: (813) 445-6035

Austin, Texas – (October 27th, 2026) In response to an impersonation scam affecting dentists nationwide, the Texas Association of Orthodontists (TAO) issued an urgent alert to their 1,000+ members on what to look out for and how to respond. 

State dental boards around the country have gotten reports from dentists receiving calls from scammers impersonating board investigators or federal agents. They claim that the dentist’s license is under investigation for illegally prescribing medications or some drug-related offense. Callers spoof official phone numbers, reference real agency names, or transfer the call to someone posing as a DEA or FBI agent.

Ultimately the scammers are trying to scare the dentists into providing personal information or paying an immediate “fee” to fix the alleged violation.

“New technology is making these types of scams more common and much more difficult to detect,” says TAO Board President Dr. Hidayat Nagori. “We have a responsibility to our members to inform them about these pervasive scams and provide them with the information they need to protect themselves from harm.” 

TAO provided the following key information for their member orthodontists who might be affected by this scam: 

• Legitimate state boards, the DEA, and the FBI do not demand payment by phone or threaten immediate arrest.
• Regulatory agencies normally communicate official notices in writing, such as certified mail or verified email.
• Dentists should hang up immediately if they receive a suspicious call and avoid sharing any personal or financial information.
• Members should directly contact their state dental board using the number listed on the board’s official website to verify any inquiry.
• Incidents should be reported to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.

A member of TAO can be made available for quotes or interviews.

We encourage media to share or reprint information from our website or social media accounts:

Website: Texas Association of Orthodontists

Facebook: @TexasAssociationofOrthodontists

Instagram: @texas.orthodontist 

YouTube: @texasassociationoforthos 

About TAO

The Texas Association of Orthodontists is a professional organization of specialists committed to maintaining the highest standards of orthodontic care for the benefit and well-being of our patients throughout the state of Texas. As an organization, we are dedicated to advocating for our members and providing services that benefit their pursuit of professional excellence.

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