Fraud and Waste Hotline

The Fraud and Waste Hotline allows residents, employees, and contractors to report suspected:

  • Fraud
  • Waste of City resources
  • Misuse of City assets
  • Serious wrongdoing

Reports may be made confidentially or anonymously.

How the Hotline Is Operated

The Fraud and Waste Hotline is administered on behalf of the City of Windsor by Risk Savvy Ltd., an independent third-party service provider.

All reports go directly to Risk Savvy for secure intake and screening.

Risk Savvy operates under the oversight of the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). The Auditor General functions independently of City administration and reports directly to City Council.

The Auditor General’s authority, responsibilities, and independence are established under City of Windsor Auditor General By-law 172-2025.

Submit a Report

Online (Recommended)

Submit a secure and confidential report using the online form:

Fraud and Waste Hotline – Submit a Report 

This is the fastest and most complete way to provide information.

Phone

Call 519-980-6656. You may leave a voicemail anonymously.

Email

windsorcomplaint@risksavvy.ca

Mail

Risk Savvy Ltd. 
P.O. Box 790 
St. Mary’s Stn Main 
Ontario N4X 1B5

If You Do Not Submit Online

If reporting by phone, email, or mail, please include the following:

  • What happened
  • When it occurred
  • Who or what was involved
  • How you became aware of the issue
  • Any documents or evidence you can share
  • A way to contact you (optional)

Providing these details helps the Auditor General determine whether the concern can be reviewed.

Incomplete reports may limit the Office of the Auditor General’s ability to investigate.

What You Can Report

Use the hotline to report concerns involving the following:

Fraud

  • Forged documents, false claims, theft of City assets, improper payments

Waste

  • Inefficient processes or decisions that cause avoidable cost to the City

Misuse of City Assets

  • Unauthorized use of vehicles, facilities, equipment, materials, time, or sensitive information

Serious Wrongdoing

  • Intentional policy violations, abuse of authority, unethical or illegal activity

A short description in plain language is enough.

What Not to Report Here

Some issues are better handled elsewhere.

Do not use the hotline for:

  • Snow removal, garbage, by-law, roads, or service concerns: Call 311
  • Routine employment or Human Resources (HR) issues handled through normal channels
  • Customer service complaints
  • Neighbourhood or civil disputes

If these types of concerns are submitted:

  • If you provide contact information, the Auditor General will inform you that the matter is outside the scope of the Fraud and Waste Hotline and recommend the correct channel (for example, 311 or Human Resources).
  • If the report is anonymous, the matter will be closed, as the Auditor General cannot redirect anonymous service or employment complaints.

Matters Outside the Auditor General’s Mandate

These must be reported directly to the appropriate body:

  • Mayor or Council Members: Integrity Commissioner
  • Windsor-Essex County Health Unit
  • Essex Region Conservation Authority
  • Windsor Police Service Board
  • Library board and other boards not opted-in
  • Committee of Adjustment
  • Grant recipients or municipal corporations 

If a report is outside the Auditor General’s mandate, it will be redirected through the City’s Finance Executive Initiatives Coordinator, as required by Council policy.

How Your Report is Handled

Every report follows these steps:

  1. Logged securely
  2. Jurisdiction screening (to confirm OAG mandate)
  3. Triage within 5 business days
  4. Risk and completeness assessment
  5. Assigned to one of the following paths:
    • OAG Investigation
    • Administration investigation with OAG oversight
    • Referral to another area (through the Finance Executive Initiatives Coordinator)
    • Closed if insufficient information

If clarification is needed, a member of the OAG may contact you confidentially (if contact information was provided).

Privacy, Confidentiality and Anonymity

You may report anonymously.

If you choose to identify yourself, your information will be kept strictly confidential and only shared outside the OAG if required by law.

Note: Important for Anonymous Reporters

If a report is anonymous and does not contain enough information to understand:

  • What happened,
  • When it occurred, or
  • Who or what was involved,

The Auditor General cannot follow up for clarification. If the information is insufficient to proceed, the case may be closed.

All reports are handled in accordance with:

Annual Reporting

Each year, the Auditor General reports to City Council on the following:

  • Number of allegations received
  • Types of concerns
  • Substantiation rates
  • Redirected matters (by destination category only)
  • Key trends and emerging risks

Individual identities and confidential information are never disclosed.

Need Help?

If you have questions about what can be submitted, contact the Office of the Auditor General at:

windsorcomplaint@risksavvy.ca