Fraudulent health inspectors calling restaurants, Toronto Public Health warns

Charlene Close 
May 20, 2011 
680 News, Toronto


Toronto Public Health has issued a warning about fake health inspectors calling restaurants.

There have been 30 complaints in the past two weeks, food safety program manager Jim Chan told 680News.

Someone posing as a health inspector is calling Toronto restaurants and telling restaurant staff to to call a special telephone number or face a fine.

"Some of the operators actually call that number, it's an automated machine that gives them a code number and is linked to a service charge on their phone bill," Chan explained.

Chan said the person at the other end of the phone is often aggressive and threatens that the restaurant operator could be fined $500 if they don't return the call with the code number.

"We want to advise the public, especially restaurant operators, to ignore that caller, 'Chan added. "If they have concerns, call the police or report it to the anti-fraud centre."

Chan said TPH inspectors never call ahead and always have proper identification. 

Restaurant operators can call 3-1-1 to double-check the caller's credentials.