Types of Allegations
Complaints submitted to OIG may include a wide range of alleged wrongdoings and may include allegations of more than one type of misconduct by an entity or individual. Some categories of wrongdoing under the jurisdiction of OIG include the following.
Fraud:
Fraud is an act of intentional or reckless deceit to mislead or deceive.
Examples:
- fraudulent travel reimbursement
- falsifying financial records to cover up theft
- intentionally misrepresenting the costs of good or services provided
- falsifying payroll information
- conducting a business on state time for personal gain
Waste:
Waste is a reckless or grossly negligent act that causes state funds to be spent in a manner that was not authorized or represents significant inefficiency and needless expense.
Examples:
- purchase of unneeded supplies or equipment
- purchase of goods at inflated prices
- failure to reuse major resources or reduce waste generation
Abuse:
Abuse is the intentional, wrongful, or improper use or destruction of state resources, or seriously improper practice that does not involve prosecutable fraud.
Examples:
- failure to report damage to state equipment or property
- improper hiring practices
- significant unauthorized time away from work
- significant use of state time for personal business
- receipt of favors for awarding contracts to vendors
- falsification of time records to include misuse of overtime or compensatory time
- misuse of state money, equipment, supplies and/or other materials
Corruption:
Corruption is an intentional act of fraud, waste or abuse or the use of public office for personal, pecuniary gain for oneself or another.
Examples:
- accepting kickbacks
- bid rigging
- contract steering
Conflict of Interest:
A conflict of interest is a situation in which a person is in a position to exploit their professional capacity in some way for personal benefit. It may occur when a person has competing professional obligations and private interests. A conflict of interest may exist even if no unethical or improper act results from it, as it may be evidenced by the appearance of impropriety.
Examples:
- purchasing state goods from vendors who are controlled by or who employ relatives
- nepotism
- accepting gifts from vendors
- outside employment with vendors
- inappropriately using one’s position to influence the selection of vendors with whom you have a personal interest/relationship
- using confidential information for personal profit or to assist outside organizations
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