government travel card misuse

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Card/Account Holders and Approving Officials Travel Training

Lesson 12: Misuse/Abuse and Fraud

What ethical standards apply to travel card/account holders.

Executive branch card/account holders are subject to the Standards of Official Conduct . These standards require that:

• Public service is a trust, requiring card/account holders to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain.
• Card/account holders shall not use public office for private gain.
• Card/account holders shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those such as federal, state and local taxes, that are imposed by law.

What are some examples of misuse/abuse?

Misuse/abuse of the GSA SmartPay® Travel card/account can take many different forms, but here are some of the most common examples:

• Personal use.
• Use of the travel card/account for someone other than the specific card/account holder.
• Use while not on official government travel.
• Purchases from an unauthorized merchant.
• Excessive ATM withdrawals.
• Failure to pay undisputed amounts on time.

What are some consequences of misuse/abuse?

Consequences for misuse/abuse may include:

• Travel card/account cancellation.
• Counseling.
• Suspension of employment.
• Termination of employment.
• Criminal prosecution.

Please note that some agencies have agency-specific penalties and consequences for misuse/abuse of the travel card/account.

What is fraud?

Fraud is a deception deliberately practiced with the motive of securing unfair or unlawful gain. Fraud can be an attempt to cheat the federal government and corrupt its agents by using GSA SmartPay payment solutions for transactions not part of official government business. Like any deception, fraud has its fair share of victims.

Some of the different types of fraud include:

Skimming occurs when a card/account holder’s data is stolen at the fuel pump, ATM or point-of-sale (POS) terminal.

Counterfeit Cards/Accounts

To make fake cards, criminals use the newest technology to “skim” information contained on magnetic stripes of cards.

Lost or Stolen Cards/Accounts

Often physical cards are stolen from a workplace, gym or unattended vehicle.

Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud

Internet fraud occurs whenever card/account information is stolen and used to make online purchases. Usually, a merchant will ask for the Card Verification Code (CVC) (located on the back of the card itself) to help prevent this type of fraud.

Occurs whenever a card/account holder receives a fake email directing him or her to enter sensitive personal information on a phony website. The false website enables the criminal to steal information from the card/account holder.

Non-Receipt Fraud

Occurs whenever new or replacement cards are mailed and then stolen while in transit.

Identity Theft Fraud

Whenever a criminal applies for a card/account using another person’s identity and information.

What should card/account holders know about fraud?

As a card/account holder, you must:

• Be alert to the indicators of fraud (including false charges/transactions, mischarging, bribes, gratuities and kickbacks).
• Report suspected fraud immediately through the proper channels at your agency (AO, A/OPC, Financial Officer, Office of the Inspector General or Office of Special Investigations).

Furthermore, card/account holders should understand that any intentional use of the GSA SmartPay Travel card/account for other than official government business is considered an attempt to commit fraud against the U.S. Government and may be cause for disciplinary actions. The IBA card/account holder is held personally liable to the government for the amount of any non-government transaction.

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• Per Diem Lookup

Government Travel Charge Card Program

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION                 Washington, DC 20405

OAS 5740.1 CHGE 2 January 17, 2023  

SUBJECT: Government Travel Charge Card Program

• Purpose . This Order provides guidance for the management and use of the GSA SmartPay® individually-billed account travel charge card (travel card) and centrally-billed account.  
• Background . The Travel and Transportation Reform Act (TTRA) of 1998 (Public Law 105-264), as implemented by the Federal Travel Regulation and OMB Circular A-123 Appendix B, Improving the Management of Government Charge Card Programs , mandates that Federal Government cardholders use the travel card for official Government travel expenses. Public Law 112-194, the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, amends Section 2 of TTRA and outlines the minimum requirements to ensure effective management controls.  
• Scope and Applicability . This Order provides policy, standards, instructions, and procedures governing the management and use of the travel card. The provisions apply to all GSA employees. This Order applies to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to the extent that the OIG determines it is consistent with the OIG’s independent authority under the Inspector General Act and does not conflict with other OIG policies or the OIG mission. This Order applies to the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) to the extent that the CBCA determines it is consistent with the CBCA’s independent authority under the Contract Disputes Act and applicable Federal Court decisions and does not conflict with other CBCA policies or its mission.  
• Cancellation . This Order cancels and supersedes GSA Order OAS 5740.1 CHGE 1.  
• Summary of Changes . This Order updates policy where needed to reflect the transition of the program to GSA SmartPay® 3, expands the Responsibilities section to update duties of the Chief Administrative Services Officer and Agency/Organization Program Coordinator, changes the title of the Charge Card Coordinator to Travel Card Program Analyst, adds the use of Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and Innovative Mobility Technology Companies (IMTCs), and removes the Travel Card Program Analyst appointing duties of the Regional Commissioners (RCs) to reflect the consolidation of Travel Card Program Analysts into the Office of Administrative Services (OAS). Minor editorial and clarifications are also made.  
• Signature .

/S/     _____________________ BOB STAFFORD Chief Administrative Services Officer Office of Administrative Services

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PER DIEM LOOK-UP

1 choose a location.

Error, The Per Diem API is not responding. Please try again later.

No results could be found for the location you've entered.

Rates for Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. Territories and Possessions are set by the Department of Defense .

Rates for foreign countries are set by the State Department .

2 Choose a date

Rates are available between 10/1/2022 and 09/30/2025.

The End Date of your trip can not occur before the Start Date.

Traveler reimbursement is based on the location of the work activities and not the accommodations, unless lodging is not available at the work activity, then the agency may authorize the rate where lodging is obtained.

Unless otherwise specified, the per diem locality is defined as "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city, including independent entities located within those boundaries."

Per diem localities with county definitions shall include "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties, including independent entities located within the boundaries of the key city and the listed counties (unless otherwise listed separately)."

When a military installation or Government - related facility(whether or not specifically named) is located partially within more than one city or county boundary, the applicable per diem rate for the entire installation or facility is the higher of the rates which apply to the cities and / or counties, even though part(s) of such activities may be located outside the defined per diem locality.

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Back to Event Oriented Counseling

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Government Travel Card Counseling

Part ii - background information, purpose of counseling:, part iii - summary of counseling, key points of discussion:.

- The GTC contract requires that all outstanding charges be paid by the date specified on the billing statement. - You will be assessed a $29 late fee upon 31 days of your GTC account being delinquent and an additonal $29 every 30 days after. - Continued delinquency for non-compliance or failure to pay may result in discplinary action IAW AR 600-20, para. 4-22(d). - Failure to resolve delinquent payments will result in GTC deactivation after 60 Days and garishment of wages by DFAS after 90 days and an adverse credit rating IAW FMR Vol 9 Chapter 3 and FMR Vol 7 Chapter 43.

I am counseling you for the conduct noted above. If this conduct continues, action may be initiated to separate you from the Army IAW AR 635-200. If you are involuntary separated, you could receive an Honorable Discharge, a General (Under Honorable Conditions) Discharge, or Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge. An Honorable Discharge is a separation with honor based on the quality of service, which meets the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty. A General Discharge is a separation under honorable conditions, based on a military record being satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an Honorable Discharge. A discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions is based upon a pattern of behavior of one or more acts or omissions that constitutes a significant departure from the conduct expected of a soldier. An Honorable Discharge may be awarded under any provisions. A General Discharge may be awarded for separation under Chapter 5, Chapter 9, Chapter 13 and Chapter 14. An Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge may be awarded for separation under Chapter 14 for misconduct. If you receive an Honorable Discharge, you will be qualified for most benefits resulting from military service. An involuntary honorable Discharge, however, will disqualify you from reenlistment for some period of time and may disqualify you from receiving transitional benefits (e.g., commissary, housing, health benefits) and the Montgomery GI Bill if you have not met other program requirements. If you receive a General Discharge, you will be disqualified from reenlisting in the service for some period of time and you will be ineligible for some military and VA administered benefits, including the Montgomery GI Bill. If you receive a discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions, you will be ineligible for reenlistment and for most benefits, including payments of accrued leave, transitional benefits, the Montgomery GI Bill, and possibly transportation of dependents and household goods to home. You may also face difficulty in obtaining civilian employment as employers have a low regard for General and Under Other Than Honorable conditions discharges. Although there are agencies to which you may apply to have your characterization of service changed, it is unlikely that such application will be successful. (Soldier's initials)

Plan of Action:

- Check for any unsubmitted voucher(s) in DTS. For travel inquiries contact the Battalion DTS POC or the Battalion DTS Approving Official. - If a manual DD Form 1351-2 was submitted to DFAS, call customer service to follow up on the status of your travel voucher. - The delinquent balance may be resolved by one of the following actions: 1) payment in full, 2) a reasonable explanation documented and submitted to the Agency/Organization Program Coordinator (AOPC) SSG Wills, or 3) an agreed upon repayment schedule with the travel card contractor. Billing questions may be directed to the travel card contractor at the number printed on the billing statement and on the back of the GTC for that purpose. - DA 4856 - DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING with plan of action for debt repayment is required to be completed every 30 days until balance is $0.00.

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