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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

  1. Do I have to fill out my name and contact information to submit a complaint?
  2. Under Texas Government Code, Section 321.022, administrative heads are required to report to the State Auditor’s Office if they have reasonable cause to believe that money was lost, misappropriated, or misused or that other fraudulent or unlawful conduct has occurred. What does "reasonable cause to believe" mean?
  3. What kind of information should I include in my complaint?
  4. What happens to the complaint after the Special Investigations Unit receives it?
  5. If I am an employee or contractor who works with a state agency or higher education institution and sees suspicious activities and/or a fraudulent act, may I report this to your agency?
  6. What types of crimes does the Special Investigations Unit investigate?
  7. May I obtain the status of a complaint after it has been reported?
  8. Does the Special Investigations Unit coordinate investigative work with other agencies and/or entities?
  9. Will I be protected under the Whistleblower Act if I report an illegal act to the State Auditor’s Office?

Answers

1. Do I have to fill out my name and contact information to submit a complaint?

No, you may choose to remain anonymous and not fill out the contact information. If you choose to remain anonymous, please provide as much detail as possible so that we can determine the appropriate course of action to be taken.

If you fill out the contact information, a member of the Special Investigations Unit may contact you to discuss your complaint or to request additional information.

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2. Under Texas Government Code, Section 321.022, administrative heads are required to report to the State Auditor’s Office if they have reasonable cause to believe that money was lost, misappropriated, or misused or that other fraudulent or unlawful conduct has occurred. What does "reasonable cause to believe" mean?

A reasonable cause to believe exists when a set of facts would lead a reasonable and prudent person to believe that an offense may have been committed.

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3. What kind of information should I include in my complaint?

Please include the following information, if available:

  1. Complainant contact information:
    • - Home phone, daytime phone, and/or cell phone.
    • - Physical address and/or e-mail address.
  2. Date the incident occurred.
  3. Date the incident was discovered.
  4. The estimated amount of loss.
  5. Information regarding person(s) involved in the incident:
    • - Name(s), job title(s).
  6. Name of government agency or higher education institution and division/section of that agency or higher education institution.
  7. If the incident involves computers, please provide the number and physical location of:
    • - Affected servers.
    • - Affected networks.
    • - Affected computers.
  8. Description of the incident.
  9. Whether the incident was reported to any other government agencies and, if so, which government agencies.
  10. Specific law enforcement entities that have been notified, if any.

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4. What happens to the complaint after the Special Investigations Unit receives it?

The Special Investigations Unit reviews complaints based on the information that is provided.

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5. If I am an employee or contractor who works with a state agency or higher education institution and sees suspicious activities and/or a fraudulent act, may I report this to your agency?

Yes. An employee and/or a contractor who works with a state agency or higher education institution and becomes aware of a situation that involves suspicious activities or fraudulent acts may report the allegations to the State Auditor’s Office.

Concerned citizens, legislators, agency and higher education internal auditors, law enforcement agencies, and agency or higher education institution employees and/or contractors are encouraged to contact the State Auditor’s Office and submit a complaint if they are aware of any suspicious or fraudulent activities.

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6. What types of crimes does the Special Investigations Unit investigate?

Criminal offenses investigated include but are not limited to:

  1. Theft.
  2. Forgery.
  3. Tampering with a governmental record.
  4. Securing execution of document by deception.
  5. Misapplication of fiduciary property.
  6. Conversion of funds.
  7. Abuse of official capacity.
  8. Gift to a public servant by a person subject to his or her jurisdiction.
  9. Breach of computer security.
  10. Organized crime.
  11. Money laundering.
  12. Bribery.

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7. May I obtain the status of a complaint after it has been reported?

Yes. If contact information is provided with the initial complaint, a representative of the State Auditor's Office will contact you regarding the status of the complaint.

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8. Does the Special Investigations Unit coordinate investigative work with other agencies and/or entities?

Yes. We coordinate with internal auditors and/or investigative groups; federal and/or state prosecutors; and law enforcement agencies at the city, county, state, and/or federal levels.

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9. Will I be protected under the Whistleblower Act if I report an illegal act to the State Auditor’s Office?

For information on the Whistleblower Act, please see the Attorney General of Texas Whistleblower Act publication. (link opens in a new window)

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