Food inspection scam in Kansas GARDEN CITY, KAN. (hppr) - A man posing as a Kansas Department of Agriculture inspector has been trying to scam money out of southeast Kansas business owners.

The department said the man recently approached three food service businesses in the Pittsburgh, Kan., area impersonating a department employee and requesting an inspection fee.

In one instance, a $100 check was handed over, but the check failed to clear. Two other businesses refused to hand over cash when the man couldn't produce a receipt.

Chelsea Good, communication director for the Agriculture Department, said the state does not collect money during food safety and lodging inspections.

"All fees that are collected from our regulated businesses are submitted by mail or faxed directly to our Topeka office," she said.

Good said if other businesses have been contacted by the still unknown scammer, they should call the department at 785-296-5600.

"We believe it's an isolated incident and a single individual," Good said.

For more Harvest Public Media stories visit HarvestPublicMedia.org © Copyright 2013, hppr