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New scam targets restaurants, Hamilton County Public Health officials warn

Posted at 1:56 PM, Nov 09, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-09 14:03:01-05

CINCINNATI -- Hamilton County Public Health officials warned of scammers targeting restaurants.

In the scam, a caller contacts a food service operator claiming to be with a health department and asks for credit card information to cover the cost of health inspections, according to Public Health officials.

"We will never ask for credit card information," Hamilton County Health Commissioner Tim Ingram said.

All of the county's inspectors have county-issued identification, according to Ingram. He said food service operators can request to see the identification and should never give credit card information to anyone claiming to be with a health department.

Anyone approached with the scam should report it to police, officials said. It can also be reported to Hamilton County Public Health at 513-946-7800 and the Ohio Attorney General at 800-282-0515.