Fraud Hotline

All reports go directly to the OIA and will be kept confidential. We encourage you to leave a contact number and/or email address, so that we may follow-up with questions once we begin our review. Please note that we may not be able to determine whether your allegation has merit if you choose to report anonymously*, and we are therefore not able to interview you.

Additionally, the State of Rhode Island provides protection for certain individuals (whistleblowers). For the Rhode Island General Law which states the protections offered to whistleblowers, please see RIGL § 28-50-3.

* Anonymous allegations cannot always be investigated if enough information is not provided. If not anonymous, confidentiality of your identity will be maintained as much as possible during any investigation but cannot be fully guaranteed. There is a possibility if you are not anonymous that you may be requested to testify at any trial that might occur as a result of this allegation.

1. Fraud Allegation Form *This is the preferred method to file an allegation.
2. Phone: (401) 574-8175
3. Provide as much information as you can.

• We will review the information in your report.
• We will take action if we find the person committed fraud.
• We may take no action if what you reported is not fraud — by law or regulation.
• We will not be able to provide you the status or outcome of an investigation.

Please do not send more than one report to the Hotline! Every report gets reviewed through our screening process. When more than one report is received for the same allegation, it creates an unnecessary burden on our limited resources.

• Child Care Fraud
  • The client is suspected of improperly receiving childcare payments or reporting a false provider.
• EBT Fraud
  • The client is suspected of fraudulently using their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card or allowing their EBT card to be used by an unauthorized person.
• Absent Parent in Home
  • The client is suspected of not reporting the presence of an absent parent in the home. This includes stepparents.
• Unreported Employment
  • The client is suspected of not reporting employment.
• Unreported Income
  • The client is suspected of not reporting the receipt of recurring income not derived from employment.

This is not a comprehensive list of what can be reported through the Hotline but is meant as a reference for types of allegations which may constitute fraud.

• Allegations involving employee grievances or discrimination complaints (these should be reported to Human Resources)
• Allegations against members of the legislative branch of government, including state senators, assembly members, and legislative staff
• Allegations against constitutional officers of municipalities
• Allegations against judges and judicial staff
• Allegations against Federal government agencies and employees

Reports which specify criminal conduct will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency.