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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

UI Tries New Tactic Against Fraud, Waste

Associated Press

The University of Idaho has a new tool to net perpetrators of fraud or waste of public funds.

Its auditing services has a new Internet web page to allow people to report potential fraud.

“It’s not intended to be a rat-on-your-neighbor-type process,” said John Farbo, auditing services director.

“It’s just a tool for employees or students or concerned citizens.”

It is comparable to telephone hot lines for whistle-blowers that many federal agencies use, he said. So far, the web site has had curious visitors, but no reports.

Fraud can be anything from inflated travel vouchers on which employees exaggerate time spent or meals eaten, Farbo said, to a worker taking kickbacks from a vendor.

The university averages about five reports a year that require investigation, he said.