U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General Office of Investigations About Us As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General, the Office of Investigations conducts independent investigations of allegations of fraud, w aste, abuse, and mismanagement involving the EPA's and U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board's programs and operations EPA OIG's Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic We take seriously our obligation to investigate fraud related to the coronavirus pandemic—that is, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and resultant COVID-19 disease. We are particularly committed to investigating fraud schemes involving criminal activity or misconduct that impact the American people or thwart the EPA's ability to fulfill its mission, as well as investigating conduct that relies on, takes advantage of, or exploits a weakness or vulnerability in an EPA program or operation. Different Types of Conduct That OIG May Investigate ~ Fraud schemes relating to the EPA's programs and operations. ~ Fraudulent claims for money that should be spent to advance an EPA program. ~ Improper avoidance of obligations to pay as required by an EPA program. ~ Misrepresentations of the EPA's endorsement of products by fraudulently applying the Agency seal, identifier, or product registration numbers to product labels or advertisements. ~ Cyberscams targeting EPA employees, as well as security threats to the EPA. Special Notice You can find a list of disinfectants that meet the EPA's criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, along w ith their EPA registration numbers, on the EPA's ListN: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 website. You should be cautious of: ~ Companies placing the EPA seal or an EPA registration number on their products and falsely claiming that their products meet EPA criteria ~ Products falsely marketed as proven to effectively block various viruses. ~ Websites falsely claiming that their products contain EPA-approved active ingredients to target SARS-CoV-2. These websites may also feature the EPA logo in an attempt to legitimize their products. ~ Companies claiming that their services are endorsed by the EPA or that their equipment or material are certified by the EPA. If you suspect individuals or companies may be engaged in fraud, please contact the OIG Hotline at OIG Hotline@epa.gov or: Toll Free: (888) 546-8740 Local: (202) 566-2476 Fax: 202-566-2599 (not to exceed 20 pages, including cover sheet and /or contact information) ------- |