Scam Alert: Restaurant Owners and Staff

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health issued an alert (Dec. 22) to local restaurants of an ongoing telephone scam. The department is warning restaurant owners and staff to be on alert for suspicious calls from someone claiming to be a health inspector.

The alert reaffirmed that Anne Arundel County Department of Health inspectors do not call restaurants to schedule routine inspections. Food service inspections are always unannounced.

In addition, the Department of Health noted that the department does not provide or request specific account codes over the phone.

The department alert said that the suspicious calls reported indicate that the scammers request business and personal information, such as account numbers, employee IDs and phone numbers. Text messages are sent requesting restaurant managers call several phone numbers. These calls may be billed to the restaurant's phone service and "may also be used to aid the scammers in setting up phony accounts for Craigslist and other auction websites."

The Department of Health noted that if owners or staff receive similar calls, to contact local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.

Restauranteurs with questions regarding food service inspections should call the Anne Arundel County Housing and Food Protection Program at 410-222-7364.