October 6, 2008

Purdue has enterprise-wide fraud reporting program

Dishonest, fraudulent or illegal business activity has no place in any organization or corporation. Purdue has significant financial and operating controls in place to provide reasonable assurance that such activities are prevented. However, the potential for inappropriate behavior still exists.

For that reason, a program is in place in which employees can report improper or inappropriate activities as they relate to the way the University does business.

The fraud reporting program was implemented in 2005 by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Treasurer. The program is administered by the Internal Audit Office.

"A fraud reporting program is an integral part of a healthy business environment," says Peg Fish, Director of Audits. "There may be times when individuals suspect or become aware of questionable business activity at Purdue. Those individuals may use the fraud reporting program to let us know of those suspicions."

Fish says reportable activities include, but are not limited to, theft, embezzlement, improper reporting of time (time card, leave reporting), fraudulent payments, misuse or questionable use of cash, diversion of or lack of timely deposit of University revenues, credit card fraud, and inappropriate communication of confidential information (pay, Social Security number, other protected personal or financial information).

The program is not designed to monitor personnel issues. Those should be addressed through individual department management or through Human Resource Services or the Office of Human Relations.

Through the fraud reporting program, individuals can fill out a fraud reporting form or call the Internal Audit Office with their report.

The fraud report form, which can be filed anonymously, is available at www.purdue.edu/ia/pages/index.html.

In addition, a fraud reporting phone number for anonymous reporting is at 49-46999 or (866) 818-2620.

Those who would like to report incidents and do not wish to remain anonymous can contact the Internal Audit Office at 49-47588.

"All matters related to any reports will be handled with discretion," Fish says. "We want employees to feel confident that they can use the program without suffering any recrimination."

All concerns that are reported will be recorded in Internal Audit, Fish says, with date received, description and action taken. Any investigation will be done by Internal Audit unless it relates to matters better handled in other offices (such as personnel issues).

Information about the fraud reporting program, including a list of frequently asked questions, is available at the Internal Audit Web site: www.purdue.edu/ia. Click on Fraud Reporting at the top right of the page.