Government Fraud

Government fraud, a crime that is also known as public corruption, is among the top priorities of the FBI's criminal investigations unit. Government officials who are involved in fraudulent activities and scams can create large problems that can affect almost every aspect of American life.

Public safety

The FBI has investigated and brought charges against government officials who participated in scams that had potential to affect the security of the nation. Some of the cases that were tried involved DMV employees who issued phony identification cards for money, government officials who accepted bribes in return for allowing drugs to be brought into the country and HazMat licenses being issued to individuals who were not qualified. All of these cases could result in circumstances that could potentially be harmful to US citizens. Individuals who requested these fraudulent activities are very likely to have sinister reasons for doing so.

Common types of crimes

Government officials have been convicted of a large and varied amount of crimes. Just a few of these cases include:

Awarding contracts to workers who offer bribes or provide free services.
Voter fraud issues.
Embezzlement cases.
Subsidy fraud.
Accepting illegal kickbacks or bribes.

How do these crimes affect the public?

Government fraud crimes can be detrimental to the public in many ways. Contracts that are offered to companies that do not properly do the jobs they have been hired for can lead to poorly constructed buildings, freeways or other public structures. Funds that are diverted by officials may lead to important projects not being finished such as streets being paved, school books being purchased or potholes being filled in. Law enforcement officers who accept bribes may allow potentially dangerous criminals to go free or ignore crimes that are being committed.

These are just a few examples of how the public interest can be undermined due to these fraud cases. When government officials participate in illegal activities, it can result in tremendous loss or harm to the public.

It is estimated that government fraud costs the American public billions of dollars each year. Aside from the negative impacts listed above, the annual economic cost is also very high. Any citizen who becomes aware of a public corruption case should report it to a local FBI office immediately.

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