The 'Fraud Notification System' (FNS) is a new electronic tool that enables vigilant citizens and EU civil servants to report even anonymously any corruption and fraud incidents involving EU funds.

The FNS is accessible from 1 March 2010 via the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) website of the European Commission, which it is now extending its services to include this new Internet-based fraud reporting system. It provides informants with a structured format to help and guide them through the process of reporting offences.

OLAF has always been relying to an extent on the support of citizens, businesses and EU employees in fulfilling its task of protecting the financial interests of the European Union and combating fraud, corruption and other irregularities, including official misconduct, within the EU institutions. For several years, OLAF has been receiving tip-offs from across Europe via freephone numbers and email.

In line with the applicable legislation, OLAF has always been investigating anonymous reports; however, prior to the establishment of the new online system it had to subject these reports to a stricter preliminary scrutiny in order to prevent abuse. During this process, the OLAF investigators regularly faced the practical problem of being unable - since informants were anonymous - to ask questions in order to obtain clarification.

Thanks to the Fraud Notification System this issue has now been solved, since the latest technical safeguards both guarantee informants absolute anonymity and at the same time enable them, if they wish so, to enter into dialogue with the OLAF investigators. No one, either inside or outside OLAF, can discover the identity of anyone who has opted to remain anonymous. The system operates like a 'blind' letterbox where both parties can drop off messages.

The new system helps the OLAF investigators better assess the credibility of the anonymous reports of corruption and fraud, making at the same time the abuse of the system much more difficult.

Furthermore, the system enables potential informants as well as EU staff who have been hesitant so far to contact OLAF to enter into a genuine dialogue with experienced investigators, protected against reprisals of any kind.

The acting OLAF Director-General, Nicholas Ilett stated: "Citizens and business people frequently ask us how they should go about reporting suspected fraud involving EU funds to us." "From time to time we also hear from EU civil servants who, despite all the legal guarantees, are cautious about approaching us directly about cases where they suspect corruption is going on," he added. "Our new Fraud Notification System should help everybody. First, it offers informants a simple user-friendly interface. Second, it gives people the opportunity to submit information to OLAF anonymously but nevertheless to enter into a dialogue with our investigators", explained Mr. Ilett.

During a pilot phase the Fraud Notification System will be available in English, French, German and Dutch. However, reports can already be entered on the online form in any EU language. All the information received by OLAF is carefully examined and professionally scrutinised before it is decided whether or not to initiate an investigation.

Even during a test phase, several tip-offs were communicated via the new system and some of them led to further investigation.

Further information:

• Official press release - Rapid Press Releases
• Fraud Notification System (FNS)
• European Commission - European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)