Reporting Misconduct or Fraud
The Federal Trade Commission Office of the Inspector General (FTC OIG) receives complaints from FTC employees, contractors, or others who have a relationship with the FTC regarding any:
- conduct on the part of an FTC employee that may be a violation of law or regulation;
- fraudulent or other illicit activity on the part of any individual or entity contracting with or obtaining a benefit from the FTC; or
- evidence of significant waste, abuse or mismanagement within the FTC.
Obligation to Report and Duty to Cooperate with the OIG
FTC employees have an obligation to promptly report misconduct, fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement to the OIG. In addition, FTC employees have a duty to cooperate in audits and investigations conducted by the OIG and to respond to questions posed by an OIG investigator upon being informed that their responses will not be used to incriminate them in a criminal proceeding.
FTC contractors also have an obligation to notify the government whenever they become aware of a contract overpayment or fraud. According to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (“FAR”) 52.203-13, contractors shall timely disclose, in writing, to the OIG, with a copy to the Contracting Officer, whenever, in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of this contract or any subcontract thereunder, the Contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the Contractor has committed a violation of federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations found in Title 18 of the United States Code.
Individuals who wish to file a complaint about the business practices of a particular company or entity, or allegations of identity theft, deceptive advertising practices or consumer fraud should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Federal law prohibits government personnel from retaliating against a federal employee who acts as a whistleblower by making a covered disclosure to the OIG. The law further prohibits government contractors from discharging, demoting, or otherwise discriminating against their employees as reprisal for disclosing information to an authorized FTC official (including management officials or the OIG). Please visit the Whistleblower Protection page for additional information.
Confidentiality
Complaints to the OIG from the public or from an FTC employee can be made anonymously. When reporting waste, fraud, abuse, mismanagement or misconduct to the OIG, a complainant may request that his or her identity remain confidential.The OIG will honor the confidentiality of complainants to the extent permitted by law. However, the OIG has authority to reveal the identity of a complainant if it is deemed unavoidable in the course of an investigation.
OIG contact information to report fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement by FTC employees, contractors, or programs:
OIG Hotline: (202) 326-2800
OIG Hotline link: Federal Trade Commission Complaint Assistant
Mailing Address:
Federal Trade Commission
Office of Inspector General
Room CC-5206
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
General Inquiries: (202) 326-3527
FAX: (202) 326-2034
