Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse

Promote the Greater Good

The Office of Inspector General is a sufficiently independent department, which helps the Inspector General to:

• Conduct Investigations in an efficient, impartial, equitable and objective manner
• Prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in city activities including all city contracts and partnerships
• Deter criminal activity through independence in fact and appearance, investigation and interdiction
• Propose ways to increase the city’s legal, fiscal and ethical accountability to insure that tax payers’ dollars are spent in a manner consistent with the highest standards of local governments

Inspector General Duties

The Inspector General Shall Receive and Investigate Complaints Referred By

• The Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices
• Any official -- the Mayor and Councilors
• Any employee, contractor or public citizen
• The Inspector General may also initiate an investigation

However, the Office of Inspector General cannot:

• Investigate complaints that are under the jurisdiction of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency or the Internal Affairs Division of the Albuquerque Police Department
• The Inspector General shall not accept complaints related to discrimination or labor law matters, or other matters that are the subject of pending litigation

All city officials, employees and contractors shall promptly notify the Inspector General of every instance of theft or other disappearance of cash, check, or property, of misfeasance or nonfeasance, defalcation, improper governmental actions as defined in the Whistleblower Ordinance and noncompliance with federal and state law, city ordinances and city regulations of which they are aware.

Reports & Tips

Most Office of Inspector General investigations are initiated based on tips and referrals received.

Remember: The Office of Inspector General cannot put a stop to fraudulent activity and misconduct without knowledge of it occurring.

Stop fraud, waste, and abuse.

Individual definitions can generally be described as follows:

Waste: Waste involves using or expending resources carelessly, negligently, extravagantly, or to no purpose, whether intentional or not, to the detriment of the City. Waste includes incurring unnecessary costs as a result of inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or internal controls and often results from inadequate oversight.

Abuse: Abuse is behavior that violates a policy or is deficient, improper, or excessive when compared with behavior that a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary. It includes using something in a manner that is contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use or extravagant or excessive use that is the result of someone abusing their position or authority.

Fraud: Fraud is an act of using dishonesty as a tool for personal gain. It involves obtaining something of value for personal or financial gain or depriving others, or an organization, of something of value through intentional deceit, misrepresentation, or concealment of something that should have been disclosed. Fraud can occur through the spoken word or by an individual’s conduct and actions. Whether an act is, in fact, fraud is generally determined through the judicial or other adjudicative system. If the IG concludes that an act was likely fraud, the case will be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further review and a determination if prosecution should occur.

The following graphic shows the continuum of fraud, waste, and abuse, based on severity of the act:

The Accountability in Government Ordinance requires all city officials, employees and contractors to promptly notify the Office of Inspector General of every instance of theft or other disappearance of cash, check, or property, of misfeasance or nonfeasance, defalcation, improper governmental actions as defined in the Whistleblower Ordinance and non-compliance with federal and state law, city ordinances and city regulations of which they are aware.

Needed Information

Have the following information before you contact us anonymously:

• You are reporting fraud that involves a City of Albuquerque employee or a contractor or vendor doing business with the City of Albuquerque
• Who the alleged perpetrator(s) is
• What the alleged fraud incident is
• How the alleged fraud incident was committed
• Where the alleged fraud incident was committed
• When (or approximately) the alleged fraud incident was committed