Fraudsters demanding cash for food hygiene ratings targeting businesses
Fraudsters claiming to be from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are targeting businesses demanding money for a hygiene re-rating and warning that failure to pay will result in a fine.
The FSA has issued a warning after reports that businesses were targeted in both England and Wales. The government body said it would never demand money in this way adding that local authorities would only charge if a re-rating inspection was requested by a business.
Angela Towers, head of the food hygiene rating team, said: "Although the number of reports of this particular scam are low, we are concerned that businesses may lose money to fraudsters pretending to be from the FSA or a local authority. If you are approached by someone asking you to hand over money in this way, do not make any payment and always advise your local authority."
Nearly half of customers put off by hygiene rating of less than four out of five>>