Fraud, Waste, Abuse Hotline offers safe outlet for filing reports

[USMCRET6391]

By Cpl. Matthew K. Hacker, 2nd Marine Logistics Group


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (July 7, 2006) -- With all the costly supplies and advanced technology in the Marine Corps, abusing the power to utilize them without proper authority can become a problem. Fortunately, there is a way to help regulate them.

The Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline is available for reporting such crimes to the proper authorities without going through the chain of command, said Gunnery Sgt. Clayton J. Carson, Fraud, Waste and Abuse manager, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Fraud, waste and abuse can be compared to similar improprieties such as theft or misuse of government property and conflicts of interest, which are serious matters that increase costs to the government and reduce resources available to support the operating forces, according to Secretary of the Navy Instruction 5430.92B.

Examples may include making long distance phone calls at work, taking a government vehicle to the exchange or using government property for personal use.

The hotline gives Marines an avenue to address improprieties outside of their chain of command and without fear of reprisal if they choose to remain anonymous, said Carson.

For those who may think their allegations will be ignored, do not be so quick to doubt the system, Carson continued.

“Every allegation is investigated,” said Carson. “Depending on the accuracy of the allegation, it may be up to the unit’s commander to decide whether to investigate or not.”

If a reported allegation is too implausible to waste resources, such as something being stolen the unit does not even supply, the commander will stop the investigation before it starts, said Carson.

Overall, the hotline provides an outlet for MLG personnel to utilize when reporting an act of fraud, waste or abuse in their respective command. The caller may remain anonymous and their allegation will be taken seriously.

“It’s a good system if it’s not abused,” Carson concluded.