Fraud

Definition of Fraud:

Fraud is any intentional act or omission designed to deceive others, resulting in the victim suffering a loss and/or the perpetrator achieving a personal gain or a gain for someone else. Fraudulent acts are characterized by intentional deception or misrepresentation about material facts and are perpetrated to:

  • Obtain money, property, or services
  • Avoid payment or loss of services
  • Secure personal or business advantage
Three Common Characteristics of Fraud:
  • Pressure or Incentive to commit fraud
  • Opportunity to commit fraud
  • Rationalization to commit fraud
Examples of Fraud:
  • Stealing cash or assets (supplies, inventory, equipment, and information) from the department
  • Contract or procurement fraud – causing the department to issue a payment for fictitious goods or services, inflated invoices, or invoices for personal purchases
  • Expense reimbursement fraud – requesting payment for fictitious or inflated expenses, such as personal travel, extra mileage, etc.
  • Financial statement fraud – misrepresenting financial statements (e.g., by overstating assets or revenue or by understating liabilities and expenses
  • Bribery – offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to influence an outcome
  • Conflict of interest (e.g., having an undisclosed personal economic interest in a transaction that involves the department)
  • Significant mismanagement and waste of state funds or resources
  • Misuse of position or authority for private gain
  • Unauthorized or illegal use or theft of confidential or proprietary information to wrongly benefit someone
  • Submission of fraudulent sick leave documentation
Consequences of Engaging in Fraudulent Activity
  • Disciplinary action up to and including dismissal
  • Possible criminal prosecution
Reporting Fraud:

To report fraud to the Office of Inspector General:

  • Click on this link to submit an online complaint (Recommended)
  • Submit a written complaint via mail to the Office of Inspector General at: 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0791
  • Contact the Office of Inspector General at 850-414-6700
  • Provide as much information as possible as to what has occurred, the parties involved, the relevant timeframe, potential witnesses, and supporting evidence

If you do not wish to disclose your identity, you may remain anonymous when contacting the Office of Inspector General. However, this may impede any review of and response to the reported information. Depending on the nature of the reported fraud, the Office of Inspector General may investigate, audit, refer to law enforcement or other outside entity, or assign for other review and action as deemed appropriate.