Inspection Fraud Targets Asian Restaurants

Con artists are posing as health inspectors in an effort to scam Tennessee restaurants.

According to the state Department of Health, the impostors call to schedule inspections and demand to be paid a fee for performing the check. Real restaurant inspections are always unannounced, and never involve an exchange of money.

Hugh Atkins runs the inspection program for the state. He says the scam seems to be a long-distance effort.

“A few of the establishments have reported the number from the caller ID and when it’s been checked out the area codes are out-of-state.”

So far, the fraud has exclusively targeted Asian restaurants. But with complaints coming in from across the state, officials are warning all kinds of eateries to be on the lookout.