Authorities from the Santiago I Provincial Health Directorate (DPS) in the Dominican Republic have issued an urgent alert to local business owners, flagging a growing fraud scheme where criminals impersonate public health inspectors to extort illegal cash payments during sham inspections.
Dr. Víctor Tomás Méndez Gómez, the top official leading the provincial health agency, confirmed that no authorized DPS staff or institutional representatives are permitted to collect direct payments from commercial establishments for inspections or any other public health services. All legitimate service fees related to health inspections are processed through formal government payment channels, not collected in cash by individual inspectors during on-site visits.
According to details released by the DPS, the scammers typically approach a range of local commercial establishments, falsely present official-looking credentials to pose as accredited health inspectors, and then demand immediate cash payments from business owners or on-site managers under the false pretense of covering inspection costs or avoiding penalties for non-compliance.
To protect local merchants from financial loss, the DPS is urging all business operators across the Santiago region to remain vigilant against this scam. The agency has made it clear that under no circumstances should owners or managers hand over cash to anyone claiming to conduct a health inspection. Instead, any individual suspected of participating in this fraud should be reported immediately to DPS authorities.
Residents and business owners can file official complaints either in person at the main DPS Santiago I offices during regular business hours, or via telephone through the dedicated hotline at 809-576-6000.