Food businesses in North Somerset are being targeted in a scam where demands for payment claiming breaches in food safety rules are made in a letter.
The council and Food Standards Agency said one such letter made demands for payment of £1,000.
Food business operators have been told not to send money and instead to report the letter to the police.
Any breaches of food hygiene regulations would be dealt with by North Somerset Council.
The agency is not the national enforcement authority for food law and would not be sending any such letters demanding payment.
A council officer would officially identify themselves to the business owner before any inspection or legal action was considered. Formal action is only a last resort.
The business owner would have spoken to the inspector face to face and have been advised of any legal action, before this action was considered.
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