International Fraud Awareness Week: Why it matters at OHIO

Each November, organizations worldwide mark International Fraud Awareness Week (Nov. 16-22) to spotlight the impact of fraud and the importance of prevention.

For Ohio University, it’s more than a global campaign—it’s a reminder that fraud isn’t abstract. It directly threatens scholarships, programs, jobs and the trust our students, families and communities place in us.

In a complex place like OHIO, fraud can look like

• Misuse of purchasing cards, travel funds or other University money
• Falsified timesheets or expense reports
• Grant and research fraud such as misused funds, false data, etc.
• Conflicts of interest in contracts and decisions
• Accepting substantial “things of value” from vendors or others that do business with the University
• Misuse of confidential or official information (records, grades, HR or financial data)
• Using University resources for personal use

Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar not supporting students, teaching or research. That’s why every employee has a role in speaking up.

What can you do as a member of the OHIO community?

• Pause and question anything that seems irregular in financial, grant, payroll or procurement processes
• Review your own practices around approvals, documentation and segregation of duties
• Get educated about phishing, a scam where hackers use fraudulent messages to gain access to University data and your personal resources
  • Faculty and staff learning resources
  • Student learning resources
• Talk with your team about why internal controls and reporting issues matter to our students, colleagues and community
• Escalate concerns to individuals or offices that can help by using OHIO’s Compliance Network
• Use the Ethics Hotline if you see something that doesn’t seem right and you’re not comfortable raising it through normal channels
• Through the Ethics Hotline, you can report suspected:
  • Fraud, waste, or abuse of University resources
  • Compliance or regulatory concerns
  • Privacy concerns
  • Other serious misconduct that may violate laws or University policies

You can make a report

• Online: via the Ohio University Ethics Hotline (link EthicsPoint web portal) from any computer or mobile device
• By phone: toll-free at 1-866-294-9591

Reports can be submitted anonymously if you choose. The system allows a secure, anonymous dialogue between the reporter and the Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance (OARC).

Ohio University Policy 03.006 Whistle-blowing and Retaliation prohibits retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, raises a concern or participates in an investigation. 

Fraud prevention isn’t only about catching “bad actors,” it’s about building a culture where integrity is expected, controls are respected, and people feel safe speaking up.