Nashville restaurants warned of bogus food inspector

By CHRISTINA E. SANCHEZ • THE TENNESSEAN • July 7, 2010 DAVIDSON COUNTY The Metro Public Health Department is advising local restaurants to watch out for a person pretending to be a food inspector for the agency. At least five restaurants in Davidson County notified the health department after they got calls from a person who wanted to set up an inspection. Health officials said no inspection had been planned. Also, the health department only does unannounced inspections, and they are not scheduled over the phone. Inspectors always carry photo identification and will never ask for sensitive information over the phone. Restaurant owners and operators are advised not to provide sensitive or confidential information over the telephone and are encouraged to report calls from those claiming to be a food inspector to the Nashville Police Department's Fraud Unit at 615-862-7594. The health department said similar food inspection scams have been reported in other states. In those cases, the fake inspector would ask for money on the spot for an alleged violation.