The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has issued a warning to the public about a recent scam in which fraudsters impersonate FDA officers and demand money from food service establishments, such as restaurants, eateries, and food vendors. The scammers claim to be investigating incidents of food poisoning and attempt to gain access to personal and confidential information from the establishments they contact.

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According to initial reports, the scammers typically contact food service operators via telephone, claiming that they are conducting investigations into food poisoning cases. They then "demand access to the food service establishment's WhatsApp account" in order to "fraudulently gain access to their personal and confidential information," including client databases.

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The scammers may also attempt to hack the systems of these vendors or even extort money from them.The FDA has emphasized that "incidences of food poisoning are considered matters of utmost importance in public health," and as such, it does not conduct its enforcement activities through telephone calls. Instead, "the FDA conducts onsite inspections" to ensure compliance and address food safety issues.

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This is a crucial point of distinction between legitimate FDA operations and the fraudulent activities of these scammers.In response, the FDA is urging all operators of food service establishments to remain cautious of "telephone calls purporting to be from FDA staff conducting food poisoning investigations." Operators are encouraged to "report suspicious messages and calls" to the Police or the FDA.

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The FDA can be contacted at its Head Office or any of its Regional Offices across the country.It is also important to note that, according to the "FDA code of practice," field officers of the authority are "not authorized to collect any payments of money from clients" during their inspections or investigations.

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Therefore, any request for money from individuals claiming to be FDA officers should be treated with suspicion and reported immediately.The FDA has reiterated its commitment to ensuring food safety and protecting public health, urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.FRAUDULENT_CALLS-31Download

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