Q:  What is the purpose of the Hotline Program?

A:  The purpose of the Hotline Program is to identify and eliminate fraud, waste, and inefficiencies in the operation of the Navy.  To be effective, the program requires all personnel to be vigilant against the possibility of illegal or improper acts, and to report to the chain of command, or an IG, any improprieties in this regard.

Q:  Who may use the Hotline?

A:  Anyone can file a hotline complaint.

Q:  Is there a time limit to file a complaint?

A:  Generally, you should submit your complaint within 90 days of the date the alleged wrongdoing occurred.  However, we will consider complaints over 90 days old if you can demonstrate you were unable to meet the time requirement due to extraordinary circumstances or unforeseen delays.

Q:  What issues should you report to the Hotline? 

A:  You should report any issue listed below to your local IG.  Report minor violations to your chain of command.   (Note:  The IG reserves the right to decline to investigate any matter brought to our attention.)

Review the list of matters appropriate for the IG: 

• Abuse of Authority/Position
• Bribes/Kickbacks/Acceptance of Gratuities
• Conflicts of Interests
• Ethics Violations
• Fraud/ Travel Fraud (TDY and TAD)
• Gifts (Improper)
• Improper Referral for Mental Health Evals
• Mismanagement (Significant Cases)
• Misuse of Official Time, Gov’t Property, Position and Public Office
• Political Activities
• Procurement Issues
• Purchase Card/Travel Card Abuse
• Reprisal (Military Whistleblower Protection)
• Safety/Public Health (Substantial/Specific)
• Systemic Problems
• Time and Attendance (Significant Violations)
• Waste (Gross)
  

Q:  Can I remain anonymous or request confidentiality?

A:  You may remain anonymous, but we will not be able to contact you for more information. You may request confidentiality.  The IG will make every effort to prevent disclosure of your identity, but we cannot guarantee confidentiality.

Q  How do you submit a hotline complaint?

A:  We encourage you to submit the allegation(s) in writing by fax, letter, or using the online complaint form.  Our experience has shown that written complaints are more organized, provide more details, and are less emotional.

Q:  How do you determine the status of your investigation or obtain a copy of the report?

A:  Contact the IG office where you submitted your complaint. While the investigation is ongoing, we can only tell you whether the case is open.  Once the investigation is closed, the IG will send you a letter to inform you that your allegations were substantiated or unsubstantiated.   If you wish to obtain more information about the case, you may submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act to the IG office that conducted the investigation to obtain a copy of the report.