The information provided below involves or impacts city of Aurora personnel, operations or contracts, and the form that is linked on this page is intended for the reporting of fraud, waste and abuse. The form is not intended for use to report employee complaints, harassment or other related matters. If you believe there is an immediate threat to life or property, contact 911. If you believe a crime has occurred, please contact the Aurora Police Department at 303.627.3100 or report a crime online.
Definitions
Fraud: Local government fraud is an intentional act of deception, misrepresentation or concealment by employees, officials, city contractors or city vendors to secure unauthorized financial or personal gain, often in violation of public trust.
For example, it may involve using taxpayer money, property, or information through acts like:
- Embezzlement: using taxpayer money or property for personal use
- Vendor fraud: a vendor or sometimes a government official deceiving the city to obtain illegal payments or benefits (fake vendor accounts, false invoices, etc.)
- Payroll scams: using payroll information to redirect paychecks to accounts controlled by a fraudster, adding fake (ghost) employees to collect paychecks, falsifying hours worked or inflating overtime hours worked, etc.
- Bribery: money being offered or promised in exchange for an illegal act
Waste: Waste is the act of using or expending resources carelessly, extravagantly or to no purpose. Importantly, waste can include activities that do not involve abuse and do not necessarily violate the law. Rather, waste primarily stems from mismanagement, inappropriate actions and inadequate oversight.
For example, making procurement or vendor selections that are contrary to existing policies or unnecessarily extravagant or expensive.
Abuse: Abuse is behavior that is deficient or improper compared to behavior a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary, given the facts and circumstances, but excludes fraud and noncompliance with the provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements. Abuse also includes the misuse of authority or position for personal financial gain or for the benefit of an immediate family member, close family member or business associate.
For example, creating unnecessary overtime.
Online form
After reading the definitions above, if you would like to report activity that you believe constitutes fraud, waste or abuse, click on the button below to be taken to our online reporting tool.