Ohio launches new option for reporting public benefits fraud in 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A caller conception connected nan Ohio auditor’s website is dedicated to gathering tips astir imaginable fraud involving nationalist benefits programs.

Ohio use and nationalist assistance programs are administered and enforced by authorities and region agencies. Because nan Ohio auditor of authorities is responsible for auditing nationalist expenditures crossed each levels of government, allegations involving nan imaginable misuse of nationalist costs are submitted to that office.

“We want to make judge that nationalist resources that are expected to beryllium helping nan astir susceptible among america are not lining nan pockets of crooks,” State Auditor Keith Faber said successful a statement.

Suspected fraud tin beryllium reported successful 4 ways:

1. Call nan fraud hotline astatine 866-FRAUD-OH (866-372-8364)
2. Submit an online form
3. Email nan Auditor of State’s agency astatine [email protected]
4. Mail nan agency a missive astatine 65 East State Street, PO Box 1140, Columbus, OH 43215

The agency cautions that because nan net is not secure, individual identifying accusation specified arsenic Social Security numbers, slope relationship numbers aliases in installments paper accusation should beryllium sent by U.S. message alternatively than electronically.

“We invited anyone pinch grounds of crimes that impact nationalist costs to interaction us. We return these allegations very seriously, scrutinize immoderate grounds of wrongdoing, and clasp group accountable for their actions,” Faber said.

The office’s Special Investigations Unit already reviews allegations of criminal activity involving nationalist money.

In 2025, that nan portion helped unafraid 23 criminal convictions successful 2025 and astir $3.1 cardinal successful court-ordered restitution against group who misused nationalist funds, according to nan auditor’s agency said. Since 2019, 153 criminal convictions for fraud were secured and 272 findings for betterment led to return of much than $28.5 million.

The Ohio Revised Code requires each authorities officials and labor employed by aliases appointed to a authorities agency to study alleged fraud, theft successful office, aliases nan misuse aliases misappropriation of nationalist money by a authorities charismatic aliases worker to nan inspector general.

All different authorities labor and elected officials are to study suspected fraud, theft successful office, aliases misuse aliases misappropriation of nationalist money to nan auditor of state.

Mary Frances McGowan is simply a governmental newsman for Cleveland.com. Prior to joining nan squad successful 2025, McGowan was astir precocious a unit analogous astatine National Journal, wherever she covered governmental campaigns for...