Commonwealth of Massachusetts | Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission
Five Middlesex Avenue, Suite 304, Somerville, MA 02145
Ph 617 666 4446 | Fax 617 628 4002 | TTY 617 591 8917 | www.mass.gov/perac
Domenic J. F. Russo, Chairman | A. Joseph DeNucci, Vice Chairman
Mary Ann Bradley | Paul V. Doane | James M. Machado | Donald R. Marquis | Robert B. McCarthy
Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: All Retirement Boards
FROM: Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director
RE: New Disability Pension Fraud Poster
DATE: September 30, 2009
In accordance with statutory requirements, the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) maintains a toll-free hot line for the reporting of suspected fraudulent public pension claims, payments, falsified records, and affidavits. The hot line number is 1-800-445-3266. All messages are kept confidential.
Since 1998, PERAC has promoted the hot line through poster campaigns built around various slogans: “It Adds Up”; “FRAUD, It is a Big Deal”; “For All of Those Who Thought Pension Fraud Was an Invisible Crime”; “I’m Not Hurting Anyone”; and “This Is A Losing Hand.” This year’s campaign involves a black and white poster with a silhouette of a man on watch. It features the straightforward tag line, “Pension Fraud Is Stealing.”
We are enclosing three posters for your use. Please display them in your office and other locations in your building that provide maximum visibility. We have also enclosed three copies of a brochure that informs readers about the PERAC Fraud Prevention Unit and provides some details about various types of pension fraud. Three copies of PERAC's “Referral Report of Potential Fraud” form are provided as well. Your staff should use these forms to report instances of suspected public pension fraud to PERAC's Fraud Unit. You should also make copies of the the form available to anyone else who wishes to report suspected public pension fraud.
Please note that county and regional retirement systems will receive, under separate cover, copies of the fraud prevention materials to distribute to the local governmental units with which they interact.
For additional copies of the poster, brochure, or form, please feel free to contact our
Communications Director, Sarah Kelly, at 617-666-4446, extension 970.
The Commission sincerely appreciates your cooperation in this endeavor.