The Ohio Auditor of State’s office recognizes the importance of privacy to our website visitors. References in this statement to “website” may include additional websites and web addresses maintained by the Auditor of State’s office for specific purposes (such as FraudOhio.com).
Visitors should be aware that, subject to certain statutory exceptions, most documents and records maintained by the Auditor of State’s office, including but not limited to electronic data, are public records under Ohio law.
In order to generate usage statistics to help us improve our website, we automatically collect certain information on every visitor to the website. However, this information does not disclose “personal identifiers” (such as name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) about an individual visitor. All information collected by way of server log files is used in aggregate form only, and may be analyzed for trends and statistics.
This web site will not collect personally identifiable information (such as name, address, telephone number, etc.) unless the visitor provides such information voluntarily. We may ask for such information in order for us to tailor interactive features of the website to that individual visitor’s specific interests and needs (including periodically forwarding information that matches that visitor’s selected interests). Each visitor is free to provide or not to provide the requested information.
Allegations of fraud are submitted through an electronic form sent directly to the Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Information, such as the suspect’s name and a description of the alleged fraud, is collected to help SIU with their investigation. You may stop a report any time by tapping ‘Cancel’ in the top left screen of the app. Once a report is submitted, however, you cannot delete the submission.
Upon the submission of a report, you will receive an Anonymous ID Number that is unique to your device. This number stays consistent for all reports submitted through the Ohio Stops Fraud app. This number will not reveal your identity or activity.
By default, your identity is anonymous. However, you may provide your name and contact information for an investigator to follow up on an allegation. Note that, according to the Ohio Sunshine Laws, providing a name and contact information may subject that information to disclosure.
The Auditor of State’s office conducts its investigations confidentially and neither confirms nor denies the existence of an investigation. When a case is closed, Ohio’s Public Records Act may require that all files and reports related to a case become available to the public.
For more information, call the Special Investigations Unit at 866-FRAUD OH (1-866-372-8364).
Visitors who submit information via this website should be aware that data linking that visitor’s computer to this web site (a “cookie”) may be created.
The Auditor of State’s website and any other web sites and web site addresses maintained by this office, will follow State of Ohio laws that require the establishment of reasonable precautions to prevent personal information from unauthorized modification, destruction, use or disclosure.
The Ohio Auditor of State’s office takes very seriously the integrity of the information and systems that we maintain. Therefore, we have instituted security measures for all information systems under our control. These security measures are designed to identify attempts to tamper with this and any other web sites we maintain. Information collected through these security measures may be used in connection with a criminal prosecution or other legal proceedings.
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code, sections 149.43, 1347.08 and 1347.09, users have rights to their information given to this site, in respect to inspecting, correcting and disputing. This is applicable to any information collected, used or maintained on the Auditor of State's website or on any other website and website address we offer.