LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations needs everyone's help in identifying and reporting fraudulent activities.
In addition to general crimes, counterintelligence, and research and technology protection missions, a significant amount of AFOSI resources are assigned to fraud investigations.
Within the past few years, AFOSI has recovered well over a billion dollars defrauded from the Air Force worldwide. This accomplishment is pretty amazing, considering only 10 percent of fraudulent activity is reported or discovered. Imagine how much money we could recover or save if more people knew what to look for. So don't let anyone walk away with our money.
We've all heard the words "fraud, waste and abuse," but would you really know what fraud is if you saw it, and if so, do you know who to report it to?
Fraud is defined as the crime of obtaining money or some other benefit by deliberate deception. Simply put, fraud is theft. Unfortunately, it's not always going to be that obvious. Fraud comes in many forms and can often times be tricky to find.
Bribery, identity theft, money laundering, embezzlement and submitting false documentation are a few examples. These things can get complicated, and often times, are covered up very well. Only those who are most familiar with the system can find ways to steal money or other products without setting off any alarms.
To help people become more aware of what to look for, here are some indicators of fraudulent activities:
- Concentration of authority or responsibility of one particular person for an entire process; i.e. the government purchase card holder is also the approval and billing official - Inadequate feedback on results of operations
- Lack of independent verification of the accuracy of records transactions and reports
- Vague and confusing procedures and standards
- Inability to identify responsibility
- Lack of adequate supervision or oversight
- Unrealistic budgetary and acquisition requirements
- Inadequate physical safeguards over resources
- Failure to strictly enforce contract provisions
- Failure to correct deficiencies identified by existing systems.
Now that people may have a better understanding of how to detect fraudulent activities, tell AFOSI. People can either send an e-mail to david.chan@ogn.af.mil or stop by Det. 201, located at 756 Durand Loop Rd. Those who want to remain anonymous can call 764-7971, or DSN 574-7971.