The Shadow
October 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Office of the State Inspector General’s State Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline.
“For three decades, the Hotline has given callers the opportunity to report anonymously on situations where fraud, waste or abuse might have occurred in state agencies and institutions, so it can be eliminated,” said OSIG Hotline Manager Richard Scholl.
As part of government reform initiatives in 1992, Governor Douglas Wilder created the Hotline under the Department of the State Internal Auditor to help executive branch agencies improve efficiency and effectiveness by answering and investigating allegations of fraud, waste and abuse reported by state employees. In June 2006, Governor Timothy Kaine issued Executive Order No.12 to continue the Hotline. On October 9, 2012, Executive Order No. 52 transferred the Hotline to the Office of the State Inspector General and expanded access for all citizens of Virginia, not just state employees.
To date, Hotline has received more than 22,000 calls from concerned citizens and state workers, with nearly 14,000 cases identified in the last 30 years. Most of the allegations were deemed unsubstantiated, with 29 percent substantiated.
“The Hotline provides a safe haven for state employees and Virginia citizens to report incidents of fraud, waste and abuse; for example, allegations of improper use of state resources, noncompliance with agency policies and waste of state funds,” said State Inspector General Michael C. Westfall. “The Hotline also allows someone to report issues in state government without fear of retaliation. We encourage those who know about a problem to come forward. The sooner an agency is aware of a concern, the sooner it can be addressed.”
