The Fraud Hotline is designed reporting suspected cases of fraud by the City or its employees, officials or vendors and employee breach of City-Wide Policies and Standards of Conduct which has a financial impact on the City, including but not limited to waste or abuse of City resources. All prohibited conduct to which this web page applies is referred to by the abbreviated reference “fraud or waste.”

The Fraud Hotline is not a substitute for employment-related grievances or complaints by City employees, as existing City policy and procedures provide channels for resolution of these issues. While face-to-face reporting is always the best form of communication, it is not always feasible: the Fraud Hotline provides another vehicle to report fraud or waste.

While face-to-face reporting is always the best form of communication, it is not always feasible: the Fraud Hotline provides another vehicle to report fraud and waste.

Confidentiality

Complainants can choose to remain anonymous. The Administrative Services Department will maintain the confidentiality of all complaints, including documents (to the extent permitted by law).  Caller ID has been disabled for the phone Fraud Hotline.  Complaints submitted online are routed directly to the Director of Administrative Services.

Whistleblower Protection

The City will not retaliate, nor will it tolerate retaliation against those who, in good faith, report suspected fraud or waste or who participate in an investigation of suspected violations.  An act of retaliation should be reported immediately to the Director of Administrative Services and/or Human Resources/Risk Manager, who will investigate and report potential violations to appropriate authorities.  In addition, those who bring matters to the Fraud Hotline may be protected through the State of California Whistleblower Protection Act or other State or federal laws.

Hotline Process

To process your complaint, the more information you provide the better; however, a minimum amount of information is needed to proceed with an investigation.  Please try to obtain the following information before contacting the hotline.

• Names of the individuals
• What happened and why you think it is/was wrong
• When and where the incident happened and names and contact information, if known, of anyone that knows or witnessed what happened
• The department impacted and the people involved; and 
• Any documentation or other evidence you have or know of.

Reporting Fraud, Waste, or Abuse

Call the Fraud Hotline at (949) 715-0854 or submit an email at fraudhotline@lagunabeachcity.net.  The Director of Administrative Services will investigate or refer to appropriate authorities all complaints received by the City related to or waste.  Complaints about City employees in the areas of employee relations, discrimination, harassment, safety workers' compensation fraud, and related personnel matters will be forwarded to the Human Resources/Risk Manager for appropriate handling and investigations, which may include the Police Department and /or outside investigations, depending on the nature of the issue and whether criminal conduct is alleged.