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VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health are warning restaurants to be watchful for fraudsters posing as restaurant inspectors. Restaurants across the Lower Mainland have reported receiving telephone calls from phony health authority restaurant inspectors, threatening fines for not scheduling inspections. This appears to be part of an on-going continent-wide scam that, at its core, is an attempt to circumvent Craigslist’s security settings through identity fraud. “We want all restaurant operators to be aware of this scam and that it’s circulating in the Lower Mainland,” said Richard Taki, Regional Director of Health Protection for VCH. “Environmental Health Officers in VCH and Fraser Health do not routinely call food service establishments to schedule inspections. In almost all cases, inspections are unannounced.” Restaurants that have received such calls should report them immediately to the police. Restaurants in Vancouver, Surrey and Richmond have received the suspicious calls. The fraudster’s method of operation has been the same in all cases and involves a series of phone calls. The first call received by the restaurant involves a real person who advises that a subsequent automated call will provide the restaurant operator with a numeric code that needs to be written down. Shortly after, another call from a real person is received with the caller identifying themselves as from the “Health Department.” This caller requests the numeric code and seeks to set up an in-person restaurant inspection. The caller threatens fines if the restaurant doesn’t co-operate. “Environmental Health Officers practice progressive enforcement,” said Tim Shum, Regional Director of Health Protection for Fraser Health. “Unless an immediate health hazard exists, a series of enforcement actions will take place prior to the issuance of a violation ticket or a closure order. We do not issue a violation ticket to a restaurant operator for failing to schedule an inspection.” VCH and FH Environmental Health Officers carry official health authority photo ID. Restaurant operators or restaurant staff should always request to see this ID, especially when the Environmental Health Officer who arrives at the restaurant isn’t known to staff. If a restaurant has unwittingly booked a fraudulent inspection over the phone, and someone posing as a health inspector shows up, the restaurant operator or staff should ask to see the inspector’s official VCH or FH identification. If none can be produced, refuse the person entry and immediately call the police through 9-1-1. VCH is responsible for the delivery of $3 billion in community, hospital and residential care to more than one million people in communities, including Richmond, Vancouver, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast, Sea to Sky corridor, Powell River, Bella Bella and Bella Coola. Fraser Health provides a wide range of integrated health services to the largest and fastest growing population in B.C. The health authority is committed to improving the health of the population and the quality of life of more than 1.5 million people living in communities from Burnaby to White Rock to Hope. Contact Vancouver Coastal Health Fraser Health
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