Pricey billboard campaign promoting little-known Pa. agency draws questions

“The sign is too busy and nobody knows what it means. The sign should say ‘Report Welfare Fraud’ and then have the website.”

Billboards are popping up around the Capital Region promoting a littleknown state agency that some people may only learn of when they are accused of cheating the system.

The Office of State Inspector General has begun a pilot $240,000 marketing campaign to raise awareness of its mission, although it has some questioning whether the message it chose is getting the job done.

The office’s role is to prevent and eradicate fraud, waste, misconduct and abuse in programs, operations and contracting in executive branch agencies. But much of what this office does is shrouded in secrecy except for its occasional news release on the number of people it charged with public assistance fraud.

“We cultivate tips from the public and work with local, state and federal law enforcement. The majority of the OSIG’s work is developed through these tips and complaints, that’s why it is vital that Pennsylvanians know OSIG is the place to report suspected fraud or misconduct,” said agency spokesman Jonathan Hendrickson in an emailed response to questions about the marketing campaign’s purpose.

The billboard includes an aerial view of the state Capitol and surrounding Harrisburg buildings that covers half of its surface, the office’s name, its website address, and the words: “Preserving Public Trust together.”

“The sign is too busy and nobody knows what it means,” said Rep. Brad

Roae, R-Crawford County. “The sign should say ‘Report Welfare Fraud’ and then have the website.”

Others have commented on social media, saying it looks more like a business card while another said this use of taxpayer dollars is the type of government waste the inspector general should be investigating.

“While the inspector general has an important role in identifying waste and fraud, is spending a quarter-million dollars on advertising itself the best way to protect taxpayer resources?” said Matt Brouillette, president & CEO of Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs Inc. “This has to be a first.”

The marketing campaign includes billboards, signs in places such as gas stations and on social media including on posts Facebook and X that includes the “preserving public trust” message along with additional words that carry a more direct appeal to the public to report suspected fraud or waste to the office.

“The Office of the State Inspector General works to ensure confidence in government. But we can’t do it alone. Your voice matters,” one post states. Another states, “If you see something, say something. You can report public assistance fraud to the Office of State Inspector General.”

Agents last year conducted 20,748 public assistance fraud prevention investigations, saving taxpayers $53.7 million, Hendrickson said.

The office’s annual report for 2022-23 indicates it filed 618 criminal complaints against individuals committing public assistance fraud totaling $2.9 million in unlawfully obtained benefits; collected $10.64 million in restitution for long-term care benefit overpayments; and received 590 complaints of possible waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct in state agencies that resulted in 54 inquiries or investigations.

Roae, the ranking Republican on the House State Government Committee, said he has no problem with spending the money to raise the public awareness of the office’s work but its billboard messaging is what misses the mark.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people driving by they don’t have any idea what the sign means,” he said. “If it just said ‘report welfare fraud,’ and people can think of somebody doing that, it would get attention and be more successful.”

Hendrickson said the result of this campaign could pay dividends for taxpayers. Its success will be measured by conducting a brand awareness and a web traffic analyses but “due to the sensitive nature of our work, we can’t provide specific details around some of the successes of the campaign.”

— Rep. Brad Roae, R-Crawford County