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NSF OIG Hotline

If you have received an offer from someone on social media claiming to be an NSF representative and offering grant money, THIS IS A SCAM. Please do not respond and immediately report the details to the FTC. NSF funds research and education in the fields of science and engineering through a competitive funding process.

  • Hotline Complaint Form

    Report fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or research misconduct involving the National Science Foundation. 

    To ensure all relevant information is captured, we recommend you submit your complaint online using the button below.

    Online Complaint Form

    Alternatively, you may submit your complaint through our telephone hotline or by mail.

    Anonymous Hotline: 1-800-428-2189

    Mail: National Science Foundation
             Office of Inspector General
             Attn: OIG Hotline
             2415 Eisenhower Avenue
             Alexandria, Virginia 22314


    For general inquiries about reporting fraud, waste, and abuse: oig@nsf.gov

  • Whistleblower Retaliation Information

    All NSF employees, contractors, subcontractors, awardees, and subawardees are protected from retaliation for making a protected disclosure.

    If you believe you have been subject to retaliation for protected whistleblowing, or for additional information on whistleblower protections, please click the button below.

    Whistleblower Information 

FAQ and Other Resources

To implement the December 12, 2008 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) amendment, we allow contractors to notify us whenever the contractor has credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent, or subcontractor of the contractor has committed a violation of the civil False Claims Act or a violation of Federal criminal law involving fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, or gratuity violations in connection with the award, performance, or closeout of a contract or any related subcontract.

The individual submitting a complaint must be an officer or manager empowered to speak for the company in order to file this report.

If you wish to provide information that does not fall within these guidelines, please use the general Online Complaint Form.

We do not have authority to investigate Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints. To file such complaints, contact NSF's Office of Equity and Civil Rights.

You may report waste, fraud, abuse, or misconduct relating to an NSF employee, program, contract, or grant.

You may also report research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism) related to an NSF award.