The executive director of a Bridgeport nonprofit says some of his clients have been targeted in a dental work scam.

Bill Colson from the Thomas Merton Center says recruiters claiming to represent a local dental practice are encouraging people to get dental work done but are actually part of scheme to defraud people on state insurance.

Joseph Oliveras is a regular at the nonprofit. He says a man who identified himself as a recruiter from the practice offered $35 if Oliveras agreed to come in and get work done.

Oliveras did have the work done but only received $10. Afterward, he was told there was an issue.

"He said the procedure wasn't finished," Oliveras said. "I said, 'What are you talking about?' 'Oh, we didn't do enough.' And I said, 'What, am I supposed to get every tooth in my mouth pulled?'"

Oliveras and others impacted by the scam have reported the practice to the Office of the Attorney General.

He says he believes the recruiting is all part of a well-known scheme to defraud the state out of taxpayer dollars.

The center has now banned the recruiter from soliciting.