Reporting fraud and misconduct

If you have experienced fraud or misconduct from UNHCR staff or one of our partners, you should report it immediately.

All UNHCR services are free of charge. Do not trust anyone who asks you to pay for our services. If you are asked for money or favours, including of a sexual nature, in exchange of UNHCR services, please report it to UNHCR immediately.

UNHCR is aware of individuals fraudulently posing as UNHCR staff, including through fake Facebook accounts. You should only communicate with UNHCR using the contact details on this website.

What is fraud?

Fraud is any act including misrepresentation and/or concealment of facts that knowingly or intentionally misleads, or attempts to mislead, someone to obtain a benefit.

Examples of fraudulent acts include:

  • Providing false information about your personal circumstances to benefit from assistance or service
  • Use of fraudulent documentation or genuine documents in a false manner
  • Soliciting money for personal gain or paying money to benefit from assistance or service (e.g. registration, resettlement)
  • Falsely claiming to represent UNHCR, other entities or partner agencies.

What is misconduct?

All UNHCR staff members are bound by the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. Misconduct is defined as the failure by a staff member to abide by these rules and regulations.

Possible misconduct can include:

  • Sexual exploitation and abuse of people we serve
  • Fraud (e.g. falsifying a document to obtain a benefit)
  • Corruption (e.g. taking money from refugees or others)
  • Fraud related to the registration and resettlement process
  • Theft and embezzlement (e.g. stealing equipment or money)
  • Sexual harassment

In particular, financial fraud, registration and resettlement fraud, corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment are considered serious misconduct, whether carried out by UNHCR staff, partner staff or contractors (people we hire to carry out work on our behalf).

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual exploitation and abuse. It is considered serious misconduct and all UNHCR staff are strictly prohibited from engaging in such behavior.

In line with the United Nations standards of conduct, the staff members of UNHCR and NGO partners must not:

  • Have sexual activity with anyone in exchange for money, employment, preferential treatment, goods or services
  • Have sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18 years old
  • Engage in any other form of sexually humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour

How to report fraud, corruption and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse

You should report any fraud or corruption or concerns about a possible case of sexual exploitation and abuse through our helplines below. All reports will be processed in a confidential manner.

Our toll-free, confidential helplines are open from 8am until 4am, Sunday to Thursday.

0791990225 | 0790691746 | 0704996168 

You can also contact us by email: [email protected].

In addition, anyone can contact UNHCR’s Inspector General’s office (IGO) at UNHCR Headquarters if they have concerns or information about possible misconduct by any UNHCR staff member or our partners. Your report will be treated with outmost discretion and kept strictly confidential. You should report through one of the following confidential channels:

In your report, you should include:

  • What happened? Describe in detail what you know about the incident or incidents.
  • Who committed the alleged wrongdoing? Do you know if anyone else was involved? Please provide full names, job titles and organization, if possible.
  • When and where did the incident or incidents occur? Please include dates and times, if possible.