Hawaii Attorney General and the Hawaii State Ethics Commission Join Forces to Address Fraud, Waste and Abuse

News Release from Hawaii Attorney General, September 18, 2020

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors announced today that her department has joined the Hawaii State Ethics Commission in an effort to identify fraud, waste and abuse involving government funds.

The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Ethics Commission collaborated on developing an informative website and establishing a phone number and email where members of the public can confidentially report suspected fraud, waste or abuse.

“Government integrity is fundamental to ensuring our democracy functions effectively,” said Attorney General Connors. “This partnership with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission aligns our shared goals in this respect and allows us to do more to instill public confidence in government. We all need to stay alert, particularly during challenging times when substantial Federal dollars are flowing through state and local governments at a fast rate.”

The phone number, emails, and website were developed to complement the State’s efforts to use CARES Act monies and to empower the public – including government workers and those who work and do business with the government – to speak up whenever they suspect fraud, waste or abuse is occurring. 

• FRAUD is deception intended to result in financial or personal gain, including misrepresentation of facts, making false statements, or concealment of information.
• WASTE is the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the government, including incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.
• ABUSE is defined as excessive or improper use of a thing, or to use something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use.

“This project goes to the core of the Ethics Commission’s mission,” said Dan Gluck, Executive Director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. “We remain committed to ensuring high ethical standards among public servants.”

To report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse:

• Please email antifraud@hawaii.gov; or
• call 587-0000, live person from 7:45-4:30 and voicemail at any time.

For more information, go to antifraud.hawaii.gov.

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SA: Discussion Board

Ilind: New hotline to combat fraud, waste, and abuse in state government

HighRoad: Nov, 2020 (pg 3)