Fake cosmetic surgery clinics advertised on social media take deposits then claim to have gone into liquidation

What is this scam?

Which? flagged a scam pattern in July 2026 where fraudulent social media ads promote fake or unlicensed cosmetic surgery clinics at artificially low prices, encouraging victims to pay a booking deposit — typically £100–£500 — to secure a procedure. After receiving the deposit, the scammer contacts the victim to cancel the appointment, claiming the clinic has unexpectedly entered liquidation or administration and that refunds are unavailable. The fictional clinic names and company registrations are dissolved soon after, leaving victims with little legal recourse.

Example scam message

Red flags to look out for

• The message creates urgency — threatening a fine, missed delivery, or account closure.
• Links lead to unofficial domains that don't match the real company's website.
• You weren't expecting this message and can't verify the event it references.
• It asks you to confirm payment details or personal information via a link.
• The sender's number or email address doesn't match the company's official contact.

What to do if you receive this

1. Do not call any numbers or click any links in the message.
2. Log in to your account directly via the official website or app to check for any real alerts.
3. Forward the message to 7726 or email report@phishing.gov.uk.
4. Report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.