Syracuse, NY -- There’s a fake restaurant inspector on the loose, Onondaga County officials said. The county health department said it was notified Wednesday that someone claiming to be a restaurant inspector had called to schedule an inspection at an area eatery. But real county health inspectors don’t call ahead. And they don’t ask for payment for “unacceptable restaurant practices,”...
Syracuse, NY -- There’s a fake restaurant inspector on the loose, Onondaga County officials said.
The county health department said it was notified Wednesday that someone claiming to be a restaurant inspector had called to schedule an inspection at an area eatery.
But real county health inspectors don’t call ahead. And they don’t ask for payment for “unacceptable restaurant practices,” as scammers are reportedly trying to do, health officials said.
Wednesday's scam attempt failed, they said.
Restaurant inspection scams have been reported in six states, the department said in a release Thursday. The goal of the scammers is to get into the restaurants, obtain payments and get identifying information for illegal use.
Kevin Zimmerman, director of environmental health for the county, urged restaurant operators to ask to see the i.d. of any inspector – county inspectors all have picture i.d. badges - and to alert police to any suspicious or fraudulent calls.