A scam targeting restaurants in Monterey County is being investigated by The Environmental Health Bureau. Multiple restaurants in Monterey County are said to have been contacted by a person posing as an inspector requesting a health inspection. The scam artist then asked the business owners to provide a special code to confirm the fake inspection. The code, according to authorities, is then used to provide false verification to set up “verified” accounts with a national on-line auction service, to establish a bogus on-line account to be used in other fraudulent schemes.
The Environmental Health Bureau warns restaurant owners that anyone calling and identifying themselves as a “health inspector” asking to participate in a “code” process, and requesting account information or soliciting other information, is part of the scheme, and should be reported.
