The Arkansas Health Department is warning restaurant owners about imposters posing as health inspectors after fraudulent activity in the state.

The Health Department received two reports of people posing as health inspectors last week, Cathy Flanagin said. She said the incidents occurred in Sherwood and Hot Springs. It is likely that more instances have occurred in the state, she said.

“A lot of times these people prey upon new restaurants and ethnic restaurants,” Flanagin said. “So there are a lot of times when these people do not know they have been scammed.”

Flanagin said impersonators often claim that businesses have to buy something to continue business. She said this could include a health report or safety health sheet. She said past scams included insisting that the owners or managers buy the documents for $100. Impersonators also can sometimes be very persistent, Flanagin said.

The Health Department does charge some small fees that restaurants pay annually, but health inspectors do not collect fee payments, Flanagin said.

“In the past, some restaurants received phone calls from entities claiming to be from the state Health Department and calling to schedule restaurant inspections,” a news release from the department states. “Inspections are made unannounced by ADH environmental health specialists.”

Restaurant owners also were given a number to call and asked to enter a code in recent scams, the release states. That is not something health inspectors would do.

State inspectors wear badges, the release states. It states that restaurant owners or managers should ask for identification before allowing people into their kitchens or food preparation areas.

Flanagin said health inspector scams occur periodically in the state.

“It is usually about money,” Flanagin said. “They could also be trying to get into the restaurant to get trade secrets. A lot of times if you ask for a badge that scares the person off.”