Phony health inspectors have targeted restaurants in many parts of the state, including Dubuque, according to the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA).
“During the past several days, staff in the Department’s Food and Consumer Safety Bureau have received calls from local restaurant owners and operators who have been harassed by individuals claiming to be health inspectors,” DIA Director Rod Roberts said. “The fake health inspectors often bully the restaurant staff in an attempt to gain cell phone numbers, employees’ social security numbers, or – most recently – solicit cash to ‘make violations disappear.”
DIA first became aware of the scam last summer when two convenience stores in Atlantic, Iowa, were contacted by fake inspectors who demanded personal information from store clerks. “State and local law enforcement agencies believe that this information, including telephone numbers, may be used by scammers to bypass on-line auction or selling site regulations and establish fraudulent accounts,” Roberts explained. Scammers then use these accounts to sell fraudulent goods or services with the convenience stores’ telephone number on the account, he added.
A legitimate restaurant inspector will never ask an employee for personal information, will never threaten or intimidate a restaurant worker, and will never attempt to extort money in exchange for fixing a problem, Director Roberts continued. Food safety inspectors at both the state and local level are dedicated individuals who assist owners in the operation of quality establishments; their role is as much educational as it is regulatory, he explained.
Restaurant owners and operators are urged to contact their local health department or the Department of Inspections and Appeals for verification of a person’s identify if they have any doubts about an inspector.
Food establishment operators who are contacted by a health inspector asking for personal information prior to conducting a complaint investigation should contact the Health Services Department or, if after 5 p.m., the Police Department, about a possible scam.