What should be reported and what should not be reported on a fraud tip?
Do not report general complaints, suggestions, or personnel issues. Only report material instances of fraud, waste, and abuse that you have witnessed. Some examples are as follows:
Personal use of City-owned vehicles, equipment, or supplies
Violations of City procurement policy
Excessive or unnecessary purchases
Falsifying of official documents (absentee forms, travel forms, etc.)
Inappropriate use or spending of City dollars
Theft of City resources
Official misconduct, conflicts of interest, or offering or accepting bribes
In addition to the above items, the following should be reported:
ACTIONS CONSTITUTING FRAUD
The terms defalcation, misappropriation, and other fiscal irregularities refer to, but are not limited to:
Any dishonest or fraudulent act
Misappropriation of funds, securities, supplies, or other assets
Impropriety in the handling or reporting of money or financial transactions
Profiteering as a result of insider knowledge of City activities
Disclosing confidential and proprietary information to outside parties
Disclosing to other parties investment activities engaged in or contemplated by the City
Accepting or seeking anything of material value from contractors, vendors, or persons providing services/materials to the City
Unauthorized destruction, removal, or inappropriate use of records, furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and/or
Any similar or related irregularity
To submit a Fraud Tip, click here to go to our Fraud Hotline
When should a fraud tip be reported?
The tip should be reported as soon as possible. Remember that the longer you wait since the incident occurred, the more difficult it becomes to investigate.
What information do you provide on a fraud tip?
The more information you can provide, the more effective the investigation. You should provide the following information on the tip:
Description of the incident
Agency, Department, or Person involved
Identify any records of support and where located
Give dates, times, names, and place
What happens after a fraud tip is received?
After a tip is received, it is screened by us for a possible investigation. If an investigation is performed and fraud, waste, or abuse is found, management will be informed and will take corrective action. We will also issue an audit report with recommendations to strengthen control weaknesses that allowed the incident to occur.
What is the purpose of the Fraud Hotline?
The fraud hotline is designed to give you a way to anonymously report any suspected fraud or abuse to the auditor for an independent review.
Why should you contact the Fraud Hotline?
When there is fraud, waste, or abuse in our local government, we all suffer, as taxpayers and as employees.
How is my identity protected when using the Fraud Hotline?
You are not required to provide any personal information about yourself. Our Fraud Tips FORM is set up anonymously through our web site. In addition, there are "whistle blower" protection laws that guarantee against retaliation by an employer
Who operates the Fraud Hotline?
The City Auditor's Office administers the hotline. The department screens tips and conducts the investigations. If deemed necessary, it may be turned over to the proper authorities.
Why does the City of Brownsville need an Internal Audit Department?
Internal audits are independent evaluations of City operations and activities to ascertain compliance with regulations, standard controls, and procedures. They assist management by reporting on the effectiveness of various City departments.
Why and how is the City Auditor independent?
Independence is essential in performing the audit function, since it provides for objective and unbiased appraisals. The City Auditor is independent of the City operation because it reports directly to the audit committee.
How does an area get selected for audit?
An annual risk assessment is prepared which computes an overall risk factor for each area based on: internal environment, external environment, financial impact, and operational impact. Those areas rated the highest are recommended for audit for that year. Also, City Commission, or City Manager may request specific audits.
What occurs after an audit?
A report is issued to the Audit Committee, City Manager and Department Director making recommendations. A follow-up audit is then performed, in about 3 months after the first audit report is issued, to determine if management has complied with the report recommendations.
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