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Report suspected fraud involving a person or household receiving nutrition benefits to the state agency responsible for investigating recipients. For suspected criminal conduct, large-scale misuse of program funds, fraud crossing state lines, or misconduct by a state or federal employee, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG). For concerns about a school or other program operator that do not fit those escalation criteria, use the relevant state reporting route. A report is a tip—not proof that anyone broke the rules; the responsible agency determines whether a violation occurred.
Choose the reporting route that fits the concern
| Concern | Where to report | Examples and notes |
|---|---|---|
| An individual or household receiving nutrition benefits | The state agency responsible for investigating individuals and households. Use USDA’s state selector to find the applicable state instructions. | State intake procedures vary. Report suspected recipient abuse to the agency for the state where the conduct occurred. |
| A school, child-care provider, summer meal site, food distribution site, or another program operator | Use the official state reporting route for ordinary program-level suspected misuse. Contact USDA OIG when the concern appears criminal, involves large-scale fund mismanagement, crosses state lines, or involves state or federal employee misconduct. | Examples include seeking reimbursement for meals not served, charging for meals that should be free, diverting reimbursement to personal expenses, or claiming funds for fabricated organizations or nonexistent sites. |
| Criminal activity, large-scale fund misuse, suspected fraud in multiple states, or state/federal employee misconduct | USDA OIG’s hotline, which accepts online complaints, phone calls, and mailed reports; the USDA regulation also lists fax. | OIG guidance says reports may be anonymous. Check the live hotline page for current contact details. |
| A USDA Foods product or food-quality problem | Use the separate USDA Foods complaint process. | A product concern is not automatically fraud. Report it as a fraud tip only when facts support suspicion of intentional misuse or deception. |
What to include in a report
Give the agency the clearest factual account you can. USDA says documentation is useful but is not required, so do not wait to report solely because you lack records.
- What happened: Describe the suspected conduct and how it may have occurred.
- Who may be involved: Include names, organization names, addresses, job roles, or other identifying details you know.
- Where and when: Provide the site or work location and approximate dates or time period.
- Why you are concerned: Explain the context and distinguish what you personally observed from what someone else told you.
- Available leads or records: If you have them, identify receipts, screenshots, photographs, witness contacts, or other evidence and where more information may be found.
USDA’s guidance permits anonymous reporting. It does not guarantee that a reporter’s identity will remain confidential in every later investigative circumstance. Do not state suspicion as established fact; report what you know and let the agency assess it.
Examples of conduct worth reporting
USDA identifies these kinds of suspected program misuse by operators as concerns that may warrant a tip:
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- Reporting meals or snacks that were not actually served in order to obtain reimbursement.
- Charging participants for meals that federal-program rules make free.
- Using program reimbursement for personal expenses or luxury goods.
- Seeking reimbursement for fabricated organizations, sites, or people.
These examples are reasons to report a grounded concern, not proof of fraud on their own.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Contact USDA OIG and verify current details
USDA’s current nutrition-fraud guidance lists OIG telephone reporting at (202) 690-1622, with 711 for voice and TDD, and written reports to USDA Office of Inspector General, P.O. Box 23399, Washington, DC 20026-3399. USDA Departmental Regulation 1700-002 also lists (800) 424-9121, (202) 690-1202 (TDD), and fax (202) 690-2474. Since the official pages provide different phone details and contact information can change, verify the current instructions on the OIG hotline page before calling or mailing a report.
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The regulation describes a separate bribery/assault line for bribery or assault matters; it is not the route for ordinary fraud reports. For a discrimination complaint, use USDA’s separate civil-rights complaint process, not the fraud contacts.
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