Coming soon: Fraud Awareness Week resources, training and tips from SAO

A focus on fraud prevention

All year long, the Special Investigations Team at the Office of the Washington State Auditor investigates misappropriation in all types of governments, from large state agencies to small towns and special purpose districts.

So far in 2026, our Office has issued 12 fraud investigation reports representing more than $1,577,780 in misappropriated or questionable uses of public resources.  

No matter the type or size of your government, fraud could occur and, if left undetected, result in significant financial losses and damage to public trust.   

While our Office promotes fraud prevention and detection year-round, we’ll be placing an even greater focus on these efforts next week during International Fraud Awareness Week, an awareness campaign led by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Beginning Nov. 15, we'll share resources, new training and practical tips to help governments identify fraud risks and strengthen internal controls. Here’s a look ahead at what's to come.   

New "Trust Trap" training coming soon to our improvement training video library. 

We’ve all heard cautionary tales of “trusted employees” who betrayed a government’s trust and misappropriated funds. Despite this, we may be tempted to place unchecked trust in our own staff, convinced that we’re able to tell a trustworthy person from a would-be fraudster. This free, recorded training explores why organizations may place trust in certain employees and examines the most common type of fraudster who exploits that trust—which may surprise you! Look for it soon in our improvement training video library.

Credit card misuse drives five major fraud cases from the past year, totaling $400,000 in misappropriation.

Credit card use can lead to serious consequences when left unmonitored—as demonstrated by the five noteworthy cases our fraud investigation specialists discovered this year. This article takes a closer look at these cases and explores the risks they reveal. 

Fraud Awareness Week prevention tips for government credit card programs.  

Want to learn more about protecting your organization from credit card fraud? This article shares practical fraud prevention tips from our investigators, including internal controls and oversight practices that can help detect problems early and prevent losses before they happen. 

SAO’s number one fraud fighting tip should be no surprise: Review those statements!  

It may sound simple, but reviewing bank statements remains one of the most effective ways to detect fraud. 

The State Auditor’s Office has investigated many losses of public funds that governments could have identified much sooner if someone had reviewed their bank statements (PDF). This article explains why this important internal control matters and features real cases detected through a statement review. 

Exponential growth: A potential warning sign of fraud. 

Fraud doesn't always begin with a large theft. Often, it starts with small transactions that grow over time, making exponential spending growth a valuable warning sign for governments to monitor. This article explores real-world examples and practical tools to help identify and address potential fraud risks.

Follow along for Fraud Awareness Week. 

Throughout Fraud Awareness Week, we'll be sharing articles, resources and more fraud prevention tips designed specifically for Washington governments. 

Be sure to check back for this content and visit the official Fraud Awareness Week website by ACFE to learn how your government can guard against fraud.