Atlanta, GA- The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages Georgia residents to be extremely cautious when participating in health-related telephone surveys. Several residents have complained to DPH about suspicious phone calls. In at least five calls, the caller claims to be calling “from the health department.”

The caller then asks questions on ethnicity and religion, among others, and may be trying to sell goods or services. DPH’s Office of the Inspector General is investigating the phone calls.

“Right now, we do not know the real reason for the calls or what the caller is truly looking for,” said Kenneth Bramlett, DPH’s inspector general, who is exploring whether the calls are connected to fraud. “We do know the calls are not coming from the Georgia
Department of Public Health.”

DPH does occasionally use telephone surveys to gain information on health trends and it is important to understand the difference.

DPH:
Will never ask for religious information
Will never ask for credit card information
Will never try to sell goods or services

Residents with questions or those wishing to report a suspicious call should contact the inspector general at (404) 656-4688.