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 We are frequently warned to be on guard against scam artists. They target us online, by sending e-mails, or by “robocalls”. Sometimes it’s a long story with complicated plot twists…and sometimes it’s the old fashioned “I need your credit card number”.
No industry is immune. Believe it or not, people pose as Environmental Health Specialists (“health inspectors”) and target unsuspecting restaurants and establishments. Whether it is to steal industry secrets, steal money, or just give them a scare, we can only guess as to what their motives are.
If someone comes to your establishment claiming to work for the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department they will:
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- Introduce themselves to the owner, manager, or person in charge and state the purpose of their visit,
- Present a County issued photo identification card and metal badge inscribed with the words “Deputy Officer” and the Maricopa County seal,
- Present a County issued business card on request, and
- Present the operator’s Rights of Inspection.
Inspections should be conducted during normal operating hours or other reasonable times.
- Other reasonable times includes any time food service and/or food preparation is occurring, regardless of whether or not the food establishment is open to the public.
- Facility inspections may be conducted during other times when agreed upon by the permit holder.
An Environmental Health Specialist DOES NOT:
- Call to schedule appointments for routine inspections. Inspections are unannounced
- Ask for or accept payment for services during an inspection
- Charge money or fees for letter grades, other signs, or equipment
- Sell or endorse products, or
- Ask owners to call phone numbers and enter numeric codes, or tell the owner to give out a code when called to schedule an inspection.
If you receive a call or are approached by someone saying they are a “health inspector” or any employee from Maricopa County Environmental Services Department asking for personal or secure information, for payment for any services rendered, or if they are unable to provide a valid photo ID and badge:
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- Don’t give out any personal or secure information,
- Get a name and contact number,
- Call the Environmental Services Department (Inspectors Verification Hotline 602 372-4994 – For your convenience this number is posted on our ESD.Maricopa.gov Web site’s Home Page), and
- Call your local law enforcement agency.
The impersonation of a public officer is a criminal offense. Anyone found impersonating a health inspector or any government employee is guilty of a felony crime.
Research suggests that food employees are predominately oral culture learners. Oral culture learners place greater emphasis on emotion and being able to personally relate to information. In addition, oral culture learners like to focus on the big picture, not the details, and they learn better when taught in the kitchen where the concepts will be applied. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oral Culture Learner
Project provides free food safety educational materials that are specifically targeted towards oral culture learning food employees. Poster boards for bare hand contact, employee health, handwashing, and other foodborne illness risk factors are available in many languages. Testimonial videos are available to educate food employees on the possible consequences of poor food safety practices. Click on enclosed link for more information about the resources that are available through the FDA’s Oral Culture Learner Project.
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