Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to Report the Misuse of Veterans Benefits

By Kaiser Castro

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs receives many fraudulent claims per year. This problem affects everyone because it's defrauding the taxpayers. Fortunately, it is possible to prevent fraudulent activity by reporting it to the Office of the Inspector General.

Gather relevant information. Be ready to give out the names of all the parties involved, such as the wrongdoer, witness, dates and agencies that have been victimized by this fraud. If you can, find out the amount of money that is fraudulently received and what it is used for. Make sure to look for any evidence that can support the claim.

You can remain anonymous or you can give out your name, number and address when you report the fraud for follow up. Remember that the OIG will investigate claims that can be substantiated. If your claim is vague, the case will be dropped for lack of evidence and information.

Contact the Inspector General's office by calling (800) 488-8244, or you can write to (53E),P.O. Box 50410, Washington, D.C 20091-0410. You can send a letter or e-mail and attach all the information that substantiates your claim.

Get ready to respond to any follow-up inquiries. After you report the fraud, your claim will be evaluated and you may be required to provide additional information. If there is a third party involved, the OIG will make sure to pass the report to the other party or agency. A case will be opened by the Inspector's General Office and the investigation will proceed. It can take up to 60 days for a government agency to respond to your claims.

Be precise when reporting the claim. The agency will be quick to follow up your claim if you can provide substantial evidence with precise information. Collect sufficient data.

Do not abuse or call the Inspector General's office for no substantial reason. Abusing the administration can result in legal charges being filed against you.


http://www.lenderva.com

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