Scammers trying to fool North Jersey restaurants into paying health fines

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Washington Township Police Chief Randy Ciocco is warning business owners throughout North Jersey to beware of callers claiming to be from federal agencies investigating health complaints. This comes after a township restaurant owner got one of those calls.

Jerry DeMarco

01/20/2011 7:20 p.m.

Washington Twp Police Chief Randy Ciocco

“The caller stated that they had received a health related complaint against the business,” Ciocco said. “The caller went on to state they would be sending an inspector to the business and they could expect to pay a fine of $2,000.“

Detective Lt. Jack Oppelt got hold of a local Board of Health official who said there wasn’t an open case against the restaurant and that “similar scams had taken place throughout the state.”

If you get one of these calls, call your local police department immediately. Official identification, Ciocco said, “can be verified.”

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