In response to Representative Edward Roybal's concern that aging organizations have used direct mail in a manner that might frighten, threaten, or coerce the elderly into contributing money or buying products from these organizations, the General Accounting Office (GAO) agreed to: (1) identify federal agencies with jurisdiction in reviewing the…

The Department of Education's Inspector General has identified and prosecuted 17 cases where borrowers received large amounts in student loans by claiming falsely to be pursuing studies at foreign institutions. Officials see serious statutory, regulatory, and program deficiencies that may expose programs to more fraud and abuse. Critics feel the…

This paper describes fraud and health risks to consumers from the unregulated weight control industry, reviews safe weight loss guidelines, notes the role of health educators, and argues for increased regulatory control measures. (SM)

These hearing transcripts present testimony on the high risks and emerging fraud in several areas of the federal government, including the Student Loan Program of the Education Department (ED), the Multifamily Housing Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax return filing. Testimony…

This report is a summary of the findings from the Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care of the United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging investigation of cataract surgery and the use of intraocular lenses (IOL's) in the United States. The document provides background on the definition and treatment of cataracts and…

This report from the Department of Education's (ED) Office of Inspector General (OIG) examines information-systems technology, financial systems and controls, and postsecondary education in the ED. The review focuses on postsecondary schools, lenders, and guaranty agencies. Significant investigative efforts revealed that fraud had been committed…

This report from the Department of Education's (ED) Office of Inspector General (OIG) focuses on ED's information technology and Year 2000 readiness. It also reviews elementary and secondary education and student financial-assistance programs to ensure that ED programs are administered with efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity. A review of…

This report discusses the continuing concerns of the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in regard to the Department of Education's management and oversight of postsecondary student financial aid programs, especially the Federal Family Education Loan, the Ford Direct Loan, and the Federal Pell Grant Programs. GAO commends the department for its…

In four sections, this document reports on the activities of the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which provides audit, investigation, fraud detection and prevention, and certain security services to the U.S. Department of Education. Section 1 presents data on OIG audit activities, money recovered or saved, and the problem of unresolved audits,…

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), mandated to provide audit, investigation, fraud detection and prevention, and some security services to the U.S. Department of Education, presents its third semi-annual report in this document. OIG audit activities are recounted in the first section, which details audit accomplishments and highlights audits…

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) describes its provision of audit, investigation, fraud detection and prevention, and certain security services to the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Audit activities are reviewed in the first section, which discusses audit accomplishments, OIG audits by government and independent auditors, audits on…

Describes how a federal program let a California for-profit institution, the Masters Institute, expand its distance education offerings, but then led to its closure because of findings of financial aid fraud. (EV)

EStablished in 1980 to help improve management effectiveness, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for audit, investigative, fraud detection and prevention, and some security services for the Department. In this document--its first semi-annual report--the OIG first describes its organizational…

A recent Department of Education study, developed with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service, found that of 2.3 million Pell Grants in 1995-96, 102,000 went to students who failed to report or underreported family income. More than 300 recipients had each underreported income by over $100,000. The report comes when the Clinton…

This report on abuses in federal student aid programs, particularly the Guaranteed Student Loan Program (GSLP), is based on information gathered by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in the course of its overall investigation and the testimony and exhibits received during the course of hearings held between February and October,…