Description: Public corruption occurs when a public official misuses their position for personal benefit. While most public servants are honest, even a small amount of public corruption carried out by a dishonest few can have a devastating effect on the public’s trust in Government.

HUDOIG drafted a fraud bulletin outlining potential schemes where unscrupulous actors use misleading product information to entice business owners and government agencies to purchase defective or ineffective equipment or products that are purported to protect people from COVID-19.

In response to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which provides the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the authority to provide flexibilities to keep the industry moving. These flexibilities provide new opportunities for people to take advantage of the system.

This bulletin provides an overview of areas in which to prevent fraud and mismanagement. All public housing agency (PHA) commissioners should know steps to take in maintaining integrity at their PHA. HUD-OIG will issue more in-depth coverage for each of these areas in future bulletins.