Report Fraud, Waste & Abuse
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) maintains a Hotline for receiving allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) programs or operations. Allegations may be reported 24 hours a day, seven days a week by DOT employees, contractors, or the general public. Download Fraud Awareness Posters for your workplace.
Please provide relevant and specific details of your complaint, including the identity of the person, company, or organization alleged to have engaged in wrongdoing; a description of the alleged impropriety; the DOT facility and program affected by the alleged misconduct; contract numbers; date(s) of alleged wrongdoing; how you are aware of the alleged impropriety; the identity of potential witnesses; and the identity and location of supporting documentation. NOTE: The OIG Hotline is obligated to expeditiously forward all safety-related complaints to DOT’s safety regulatory agencies.
- Online: See form below
- Call: 1-800-424-9071 (toll free).
- Email: hotline@oig.dot.gov
- Mail: DOT Inspector General, 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, West Bldg 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20590
- Contractors may also use our online FAR Disclosure Form to report criminal or civil violations in connection with a Federal contract.
Click here for more information about whistleblower protection or contact Jason Weidenfeld at: (202) 366-1514.
| FRAUD ALERT: Hotline telephone numbers at other Federal IG offices have been used in spoofing scams to make it seem as if calls are coming from OIG’s hotline. SAFETY TIPS:
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Issues that should be reported
- Contract and Grant Fraud (view a description of Common Fraud Schemes
- Environmental, Health, and Safety Violations
- Computer Crimes
- Product Substitution and Suspect/Counterfeit Parts
- Bribery, Kickbacks, and Gratuities
- False Statements and False Claims
- Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Violations
- Travel Fraud
- Theft or Abuse of Government Property
- Violation(s) of Criminal Law and/or the Civil False Claims Act in Connection with a Federal Contract
- Other Violations of Federal Laws and Regulations
How Are Complaints Processed?
Upon receipt of a specific allegation of fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement, the OIG may take any one of the following actions: open an investigation or audit; refer the matter to DOT management for appropriate review and action; or refer the allegation to another Federal agency. Allegations with limited specificity or merit may be held in abeyance until further, specific details are reported.
Can I Remain Anonymous?
Yes, you may remain anonymous. However, we encourage you to identify yourself in the event additional questions arise as we evaluate or pusue your allegations. Please consider providing your name and contact information to allow for follow-up contact if needed. In many cases, our inability to reach you for follow-up may prevent a comprehensive review of your complaint.
How Will My Confidentiality Be Protected?
The Office of Inspector General will protect the identity of complainants to the maximum extent possible by law. Confidentiality is established by Section 7(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, which precludes the IG from disclosing the identity of a DOT employee who reports an allegation or provides information, without the employee's consent, unless the IG determines that disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the investigation. Non-Department of Transportation employees who report allegations may specifically request confidentiality.
Additional Safety Hotlines and Consumer Resources
- Aviation safety-related complaints, such as an aircraft incidents and accidents or violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) may be directed to FAA’s Aviation Safety Hotline.
- Complaints about defective motor vehicles should be directed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Hotline.
- For questions involving your rights when moving household goods, please visit our Household Goods Moving Fraud Portal.
- Federal employees with complaints about prohibited personnel practices, including whistleblower reprisals; Hatch Act violations; or other workplace improprieties, should visit the Office of Special Counsel's website for more information.
- If you have you experienced safety, service or discrimination issues, including shipment of hazardous materials, with a moving company, bus or truck company, or cargo tank facility, please visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s National Consumer Complaint Database.
- Additional information regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and related whistleblower protection can be found at www.oig.dot.gov/recovery/whistleblower-protection and www.recovery.gov.