Restaurant Inspection Scam Reported in Fargo

Fargo Cass Public Health is warning area restaurants operators to beware of a nationwide scam involving false restaurant inspections.

The scam involves individuals claiming to be employees of area health departments contacting restaurants to set up inspections.

The phony inspectors go on to try to extract detailed business and personal information from the restaurant operator for purposes of identity theft, apparently for use in circumventing Craigslist security settings.

They have also sometimes threatened fines for failing to schedule inspections, but this is a warning sign because inspections are typically unannounced, not scheduled.

Four restaurants in Fargo and one in West Fargo have received suspicious calls thus far, according to a release from Doug Jenson, environmental health practitioner at Fargo Cass Public Health.

Restaurant operators who think they have been contacted should report the call to (701) 476-6729