NC health officials warn of restaurant inspection scam

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina health officials are warning restaurant operators to watch for an inspection scam. The North Carolina Division of Environmental Health issued the warning to help restaurants avoid fraud.

Officials say someone is calling restaurants claiming to be a health inspector or other government official with new inspection procedures. They give the restaurants a code and tell them to provide the information when they get an automated call or when an inspector visits.

Larry Michael with the Food Protection Branch says the code is used to set up accounts with a national online auction service. Officials say the account can be used in later fraud schemes.

There have been no reports of phony inspectors at North Carolina restaurants.

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