How to Report Suspected Fraud, Waste or Abuse to the OIG

You can use our reporting form to report suspected wrongdoing, or report by email, phone or mail. Please provide as much information as possible:

• Identify the city, town, agency or other public entity involved.
• Provide the name(s) of individual(s) involved, with their positions or titles.
• Explain the issue or concern in as much detail as possible, including the nature, scope and timeframe of the suspected wrongdoing.
• Provide us with information about other individuals who may have relevant information or documents, as well as their contact information.

Include copies of any related documents, which you can upload with this form or send to our office via email or mail.

We will keep your identity confidential to the extent possible. In some cases it may be necessary to share your complaint if we need to refer the matter to a more suitable agency or work with another agency to investigate your complaint. Even so, your name will not be disclosed without your written consent. You will receive advanced notice from our office in the rare instance that we cannot avoid disclosure. Under Massachusetts law, all OIG records - including your tips and complaints - are confidential and exempt from the Public Records Law.

Every tip and complaint is important, and we review each one as quickly as possible. However, not every tip results in an investigation. Please note that, by statute, the Office’s work is confidential and therefore we generally cannot provide you with information about or comment on any action undertaken regarding your complaint.

If you report suspected illegal activity, state whistleblower laws may protect your identity and also may protect you from an employer's retaliation or intimidation.

Want to learn more before you file a complaint? Visit our fraud reporting FAQ.

The Office of the Inspector General does not usually handle the following types of complaints. Please contact the agencies listed:

• E-ZPass. To resolve billing or toll-collection disputes related to electronic tolling or E-ZPass, contact the E-ZPass customer service center at (877) 627-7745.
• Social Security. To report the suspected misuse of social security benefits, contact the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
• Housing Benefits. To report the suspected misuse of Section 8 or other housing benefit programs, contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of the Inspector General, the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and/or the local housing authority.
• Public Assistance Programs. To report the suspected misuse of public assistance program benefits (e.g., EBT, SNAP, MassHealth), contact the Bureau of Special Investigations.
• Unemployment Benefits. To report the suspected misuse of unemployment assistance benefits, contact the Unemployment Insurance Program Integrity Department.
• Phone and Internet Scams. To report phone and internet scams, contact the Federal Trade Commission.
• Consumer Complaints. To file a consumer complaint against a business located in Massachusetts, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division.

Want to learn more before you file a complaint? Visit our fraud reporting FAQ.

The kinds of behavior we investigate include:

• Wasteful spending by an agency, public employer, public contractor or vendor
• Misuse of public funds or property
• Failure to comply with public purchasing laws
• Suspected criminal conduct by a public employee, contractor or vendor, such as:
  • Stealing
  • Bribery
  • Embezzlement
  • Fraud
  • Theft of time
  • Collusion
  • Bid-rigging