To encourage effective and efficient government practices, the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) operates a toll-free telephone number within Virginia to encourage state employees and citizens to report situations where fraud, waste or abuse may have occurred in state government executive branch agencies and institutions. The toll-free State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline—(800) 723-1615—provides an anonymous and confidential method for Virginian’s to report suspected fraud, waste, abuse or corruption in state agencies and institutions. Examples of fraud, waste, and/or abuse include: • Personal use of state-owned vehicles, supplies, equipment, or telephones (including long distance and personal calls); • Violations of state procurement policy or contract fraud; • Excessive or unnecessary purchases or inappropriate expenditures, • Conducting personal business on state time; • Falsification of official documents (timesheets, leave reports, travel vouchers, etc.); • Embezzlement. From July 1, 2012 (when OSIG was created), through December 31, 2015, a total of 4,644 Hotline calls have been received resulting in 2,081 calls being assigned for investigation. Citizens who observe fraud, waste, and/or abuse may call the Hotline Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on state holidays. State employees are encouraged to first report incidents of fraud, waste, and/or abuse to management within their assigned agency. However, to keep their identity confidential, employees may call the Hotline. In addition to the Hotline, there are several other ways for citizens and state employees to report potential fraud, waste or abuse anonymously: by mail: Office of the State Inspector General, Attention: State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline, Post Office Box 1151, Richmond, VA 23218; by fax: (804) 371-0165; or by email: covhotline@osig.virginia.gov. Additional information may be found on the OSIG website (http://osig.virginia.gov/) by clicking on “State Fraud, Waste and Abuse” under the Useful Links menu.
