New Scam: Phony Restaurant Inspectors

PROVIDENCE, RI—A fraudster, pretending to be director of the state health department, has called restaurant owners and demanded credit card information. The calls were made over the past two days, the health department said.

"In the last two days, two food establishment owners in Rhode Island have reported receiving fraudulent calls from a man who identified himself as the Director of Health," state officials said. "The man requested their credit card information in order to pay for an upcoming inspection. The food establishment owners were threatened with $500 fines for not providing this information."

State police are investigating.

"Food establishment owners would never receive phone calls from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) requesting credit card information to pay for inspections," the state said. They are charged annual licensing fees, but these fees are collected by mail.

Any employee who receives such a call should not provide information but should report the call at 222-2749.

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