Welfare fraud is reported in a variety of ways depending upon the State in which the person(s) lives and thereby where he or she commits the fraud. While UCOWF is an organization of investigators we, as an organization, do not engage in the investigation or the oversight of the complaints we receive. We can only pass them on or provide the portal with which to do so. Further, there are many situations where the information provided may not constitute fraud, but may effect a change in the case record of which you would not be aware and which the agency by law cannot disclose to you.
We appreciate your vigilance in reporting suspected fraud and abuse, as no matter what the outcome, it does put the agency administering programs and those receiving benefits on notice that they are being watched. Your support and interest ultimately contributes to increased program integrity. To report fraud, find the state in which the person you suspect of committed lives. Use the reporting contact information to file your report consistent with the method(s) available in that State.
Find Your State
Alabama
Alabama Department of Human Resources
Office of Fraud and Overpayments
Fraud and Overpayments DirectorPhone Number: (334) 242-1900
Alaska
Department of Health and Social Services Div of Public Assistance/Fraud Control Unit Anchorage: (907) 269-1060 or 1-800-478-6406 Wasilla: (907) 376-3903 or 1-800-478-7778 Fairbanks: (907) 451-2850 or 1-800-478-2850 Kenai: (907) 283-2900 or 1-800-478-9032 Email: fraud_allegations@alaska.gov
Arizona
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Consumer Information and Complaints
consumerinfo@azag.gov
Fraud Hotline: 1-800-251-2436
Arkansas
Office of Quality Assurance
Fraud Investigations
Phone: 501.682.8849
FAX: 501.682.8646
California
Department of Social Services PO Box 944243, MS 19-26 Sacramento, CA 94244-2430 Email: fraudhotline@dss.ca.gov Toll Free: 800 344-8477
Colorado
Fraud Hotline: 1-877-934-6361
Email: elsa.anaya@state.co.us
Connecticut
Online Reporting: http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2351&q=305906 Email: quality.dss@ct.gov
Delaware
Delaware Health and Social Services
Audit & Recovery Management Services (ARMS)
Email: dhssinfo@state.de.us
Phone: (302) 255-9010
District of Columbia
Office of Program Review, Monitoring and Investigation (OPRMI)
Hotline: (202) 673-4464
Florida
Online Fraud Reporting Hotline link:
Georgia
Georgia DHR Office of Investigative Services
Fraud hotline: 1-800-282-4063
Hawaii
State of Hawaii
Welfare Fraud Hotline: 808 587-8444
Idaho
State of Idaho, Dept. of Health & Welfare
Bureau of Audit & Investigations
Phone: 208-334-0609
E-mail: steve.bellomy@dhw.idaho.gov
Illinois
Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Office of the Inspector General
Online Reporting: http://www.state.il.us/agency/oig/reportfraud.asp
Indiana
Hotline: (800) 446-1993
Email: wendell.hoskins@fssa.in.gov
Iowa
Department of Inspections and Appeals
Division of Investigations
Email: investigations@dia.iowa.gov
Hotline: 1-800-831-1394
Kansas
Dept of Social and Rehabilitation Services
915 SW Harrison, 6th Floor South Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: 785 296-3967
Fax: 785 296-4960
Kentucky
Office of the Inspector General
Division of Audit & Investigations
Division of Audit & Investigations
275 East Main Street, 5E-D Frankfort, KY 40621-0001
Medicaid and Welfare Fraud and Abuse Hotline: 1-800-372-2970
Louisiana
Fraud and Recovery Section
P.O. Box 91147
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9147
Email: ofsfraud@dss.state.la.us
Fraud Hotline at 800-256-3150
Maine
Fraud, Investigation and Recovery
11 State House Station
Whitten Road
Augusta, Maine 04333-0011
Report Welfare Fraud Toll Free: 1-800-442-6003
Maryland
Online reporting: http://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-the-inspector-general/welfare-fraud-complaint-form/
Welfare Fraud hotline: 1-800-332-6347
Massachusetts
The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI)
One Ashburton Place, Room 1402 Boston, MA 02108
Hotline: 1-800-FRAUD-99 (24 hours)
Email: Infoline@SAO.state.ma.us
Michigan
Michigan Department of Human Services
Welfare Fraud hotline: 1-800-222-8558
Minnesota
Welfare Fraud Hotline: 1-800-627-9977
Email: root@mfia.org
Mississippi
Department of Human Services
750 North State Street Jackson, MS 39205
Welfare Fraud Hotline: 1-800-299-6905
Missouri
Jodie Bayless
MO DSS Investigations Unit
Phone: 877-770-8055
Fax: 573-751-0196
Email: DLS.ReportFraud@dss.mo.gov
Montana
MT Department of Public Health and Human Services
Toll free: (800) 201-6308
Online: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/qad/
Nebraska
NE Health & Human Services
Phone: Omaha: (402) 595-3789
Lincoln and greater Nebraska: (402) 471-9375
Email: DHHS.InvestigationsSIU@nebraska.gov
Nevada
Division of Welfare and Supportive Services
Toll Free: (800) 992-0900
Online Reporting: https://dwss.nv.gov/maps/IR_ReportFraudForm.htm
New Hampshire
Department of Health and Human Services
Special Investigations Unit
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603.271.9258
Fax: 603.271.4472
New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS)
Reporting Details: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/
Toll Free: 800-792-9773
New Mexico
Inspector General
New Mexico Human Services Department
PO Box 2348
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Email: HSDOIGFRAUD@state.nm.us
Toll Free number 1-800-228-4802
New York
New York State
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
Program Integrity
Online Reporting: http://www.otda.ny.gov/resources/welfare-fraud/
To report potential Medicaid fraud, please contact the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General at 1-877-873-7283
North Carolina
NC Division of Social Services
Economic and Family Services Branch
919-334-1224
North Dakota
State of North Dakota
Department of Human Services
600 East Boulevard
Dept. 325
Bismark, ND 58505
Toll Free Contact: 1 800 472-2622
Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services
PO Box 1618
Columbus, OH 43216-1618
Toll-Free: 1-866-244-0071
Oklahoma
Department of Human Services
Office of Inspector General
Fraud hotline: (800) 784-5887
Email: OIGFraud2@okdhs.org
Oregon
Department of Human Services
Fraud Investigation Unit
PO Box 14150
Salem, OR 97309
Fraud Hotline: 1-888-FRAUD01 (888-372-8301)
Fax: 503-373-1525 (Attn: Fraud Hotline)
Pennsylvania
Office of Inspector General
Operations Support Division/Tipline
101 Chestnut Steet
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Welfare Fraud Tipline: (800) 932-0582
Report Fraud Online: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=3775&&PageID=417581&mode=2
Rhode Island
RI Department of Human Services
FRED/FRAUD Unit
Online Reporting: https://www.dhs.ri.gov/dynamic/fraudAbuseForm.do
Phone: (401) 222-1700
Fax: 401.222.1708
South Carolina
Special Agent in Charge
Division of Investigation
SC Department of Social Services
Phone: (803) 898-7673
Fax: 803.898.7230
South Dakota
SD Department of Social Services
Recoveries and Fraud Investigations
Welfare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-765-7867
Online Reporting: http://dss.sd.gov/benefitfraud/benefit/reportform.asp
Tennessee
Department of Human Services
Investigations Section
400 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37248-0080
Phone: (615) 313-4708
Fax: 615.313.6615
Texas
Health & Human Services Commission
Office of the Inspector General
Fraud Hotline: 1-800-436-6184
Texas HHSC OIG online reporting: https://oig.hhsc.state.tx.us/WafRep/
Utah
Payment and Error Prevention Unit
Department of Workforce Services
Telephone: (801) 626-3144
Fax: 801.626.5711
Vermont
Economic Services Division
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05676-1500
Phone: 1-800-479-6151
Virginia
Virginia Department of Social Services
Fraud Management
Telephone: (804) 726-7681 or (804) 726-7679
Fax: 804.726.7669
Washington
Department of Social and Human Services
Division of Fraud Investigations
Welfare Fraud Hotline: 1-800-562-6906
Fax: 360-438-8140 (ATTN: Fraud Hotline)
West Virginia
Department of Health and Human Resources
Investigations and Fraud Management
State Capitol Complex Building 6, Room 861
1900 Kanawha Blvd.
Charleston, West Virginia 25801
Telephone: (304) 558-1862
Fax: 304.558.2363
Wisconsin
Public Assistance Fraud Program
Division of Healthcare Access and Accountability
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/fraud/
To report Public Assistance Fraud, contact your county/tribal agency fraud specialist
Wyoming
Department of Family Services
Fraud and Recovery Unit
Telephone: (307) 777-3526
USDA Food and Nutrition Services
Reporting Food Stamp Abuse/Trafficking by Retailers
By Phone: (800) 424-9121
By Email: usda_hotline@oig.usda.gov
Keep in mind the following when reporting fraud:
- Anonymously reporting suspected fraud may or may not be permitted by the appropriate officials. If you wish to remain anonymous, ask about the policy on anonymous reports before providing any information.
- Be aware that fraud is normally a criminal offense. Once reported, it is most likely that you will not be contacted again or ‘updated on the progress’ of any criminal investigation; it is strictly prohibited in criminal investigations.
- Have as much information as possible when making the report to include why you believe or know the individual receives public assistance and why you believe the individual has committed fraud. The more information available to officials, the more likely investigations will be initiated.
- Baseless reports filed simply for retribution or spite can result in the individual knowingly making the baseless report vulnerable to criminal charges.
About Us
The United Council on Welfare Fraud (UCOWF) is an organization of investigators, administrators, prosecutors, eligibility workers, and claims and recovery specialists from local, state and federal agencies from the United States and Canada who have combined their efforts to fight fraud, waste, and abuse in social services programs.
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Contact Us
UCOWF, Inc
PO Box 604
Clear Lake, IA 50428