The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI)

The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) is dedicated to ensuring the program integrity of the Division of Nutrition's supplemental nutrition programs. The Bureau is responsible for protecting the public's health through the enforcement of federal and state regulations specific to the programs administered by the Division including: Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP). BSI's mission is to minimize waste, fraud and abuse through prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of those who abuse and defraud the programs under its purview. BSI utilizes covert and overt investigations, including the use of data analytics to identify potential fraud. BSI is also responsible for advising program leadership on improving internal controls.

BSI investigates:

  • Program Participants
  • Contractors
  • Authorized distributors
  • WIC Vendors
  • Program Employees

BSI investigates many different types of fraud where individuals misuse program benefits or resources. This may include:

  • Participants who misrepresent their circumstances to make themselves eligible to participate in a supplemental nutrition program
  • Staff, contractors, vendors or participants who misuse program benefits or resources
  • Situations where records or requests for reimbursements are falsified or unsubstantiated
  • Program violations or discrimination

What is fraud?

There are many different types of fraud that the BSI investigates, but there is never a clear-cut model for fraud since it can evolve as the times change. Below are some examples of fraud that the Bureau investigates:

  • Participants who misrepresent their circumstances to make themselves eligible to participate in a DON Program (ex. false income, family composition or pregnancy);
  • Stealing or sale of supplemental foods or food instruments to vendors or individuals, also commonly referred to as trafficking;
  • Participants enrolled in more than one supplemental food program (eg: CSFP & WIC) or enrolled multiple times in one program;
  • Day Care Centers that falsely report the number of children they serve or that don't serve meals for which they receive funding; and/or
  • Food Banks, Soup Kitchens, or Food Pantries that sell their food; refuse to serve individuals; or are not open during their reported business hours.

More Information

What can you do if you suspect fraud?

If you suspect that someone may be committing fraud in any of the Division of Nutrition's supplemental food programs then please contact the Bureau of Special Investigations. You may report your concerns anonymously. If the investigation results in no finding of fraud, there is no adverse action for either the complainant or subject of investigation.

You can contact a BSI investigator by calling the toll free hotline at 1-877-282-6657 or by filling out the form and mailing or faxing it to the address below. You may also complete the form and email it to us at foodfraud@health.ny.gov.

Contact:

New York State Department of Health
Division of Nutrition/Bureau of Special Investigations
P.O Box 2061
Albany, New York 12220-0061
Phone: (877) 282-6657
Fax :(518) 402-1637

Equal Opportunity Notice

WIC, CSFP and CACFP are equal-opportunity providers.