CAYUGA COUNTY -- The Cayuga County Health Department is warning businesses of a telephone scam targeting restaurants locally and around the country.
Suspicious phone calls are being made to restaurants by people claiming to be health inspectors or representatives of the State Department of Health. The callers are asking for information like phone numbers and other details only restaurant owners would know.
In some cases, the scammers request restaurant managers to call other phone numbers. These calls may be billed to the restaurant's phone service and may also help create phony accounts for Craigslist or other websites.
The Cayuga County Health Department is reminding restaurant owners and staff that food service inspections are unannounced. They do not call restaurants to setup routine inspections. Food service inspections in Cayuga County are only conducted by department employees in person with proper identification. The Health Department also does not request any account codes over the phone.
If you think you've received a scam phone call, contact local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/phonefraud.
For questions about Cayuga County Health Department food service inspections, call the County's Environmental Health Division at 315-253-1405.
