Where and how to report Section 8 fraud

Report Section 8 fraud to your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) first. The PHA administers the voucher program in your area and has a fraud hotline or complaint process — usually a phone number or online form on their website. Search "[your city or county] public housing authority" to find the right office.

If the fraud involves a landlord taking illegal payments, falsifying lease terms, or housing code violations, also contact your state's housing authority or your state attorney general's office. For federal crimes — like a landlord systematically defrauding the program across multiple vouchers — you can report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General at hotline@hudoig.gov or call 1-800-347-3735.

Have the following information ready before you call or file a report: the voucher holder's name (if you are not the voucher holder), the landlord's name and property address, the specific fraud you witnessed or experienced, and dates if you have them. You do not need all of this to file — start with what you know.

Key Takeaways

  • Your local Public Housing Authority has a fraud hotline and is the first place to report — find it by searching your city or county name plus "public housing authority."
  • Report landlord fraud involving illegal payments, lease falsification, or code violations to your state housing authority or state attorney general as well.
  • Federal crimes involving systematic fraud across multiple vouchers go to the HUD Office of Inspector General at hotline@hudoig.gov or 1-800-347-3735.
  • You can report anonymously in most cases, and the PHA will investigate without revealing your identity to the landlord or tenant.
  • Retaliation against a person who reports fraud is illegal, and you can file a separate complaint if a landlord punishes you for reporting.

What counts as Section 8 fraud

Section 8 fraud falls into two categories: tenant fraud and landlord fraud. Tenant fraud includes lying on the initial voucher application about income, household size, or assets; failing to report a change in income or household composition; or allowing someone not on the lease to live in the unit. Landlord fraud includes charging tenants illegal "under the table" payments beyond the voucher amount, falsifying lease terms or rent amounts to the PHA, housing a voucher tenant in a unit that fails housing quality standards, or collecting voucher payments while evicting the tenant anyway.

Less obvious fraud includes a landlord and tenant colluding to split voucher payments, a landlord renting the same unit to multiple voucher holders simultaneously, or a property owner using a fake business name to hide prior fraud convictions. If you suspect any of these, report it.

What happens after you report

The PHA will open an investigation, usually within two to four weeks of your report. An investigator will contact the landlord, tenant, or both, depending on who is suspected of fraud. They may request lease documents, bank records, lease inspection photos, and statements from neighbors or other witnesses. The investigation typically takes one to three months, though complex cases can take longer.

If fraud is confirmed, the PHA can terminate the voucher, evict the tenant, or both. A landlord found committing fraud can be banned from the program permanently and may face criminal charges. You will not be told the outcome of the investigation — that is confidential — but you can follow up with the PHA after 90 days to ask whether the case is closed.

Reporting anonymously and protecting yourself from retaliation

You can report fraud anonymously to the PHA or HUD. When you call the fraud hotline or submit an online form, you do not have to give your name. If you do provide your name, the PHA will keep it confidential during the investigation and will not tell the landlord or tenant who reported them unless legally required to do so.

If a landlord retaliates against you for reporting — by raising rent, threatening eviction, reducing services, or harassing you — that is illegal under federal housing law. Document the retaliation (dates, what happened, any witnesses) and file a separate complaint with the PHA or HUD. Retaliation complaints are taken seriously and can result in additional penalties for the landlord.

What you need to know before reporting

Reporting fraud does not automatically stop your voucher or evict you. The investigation is separate from your tenancy. If you are the voucher holder and you report your landlord, you can request a lease break or transfer to a different unit while the investigation happens — ask the PHA about this option when you file your report.

If you are reporting a neighbor or another tenant's fraud, understand that the investigation may take months and you will not hear updates. The PHA cannot tell you the results because of privacy laws. Your role ends when you file the report; the PHA handles the rest.

False reports — deliberately lying to the PHA about fraud that did not happen — can result in criminal charges. Report only what you have direct knowledge of or strong reason to believe is true.

Reporting housing code violations alongside fraud

If the fraud involves a landlord not maintaining the unit to housing quality standards — mold, broken heat, rodents, broken locks — report the code violations separately to your city or county housing inspector. The PHA will not fix the unit; the housing inspector will order the landlord to repair it or face fines. You can report code violations even if you are not reporting fraud.

Provide the housing inspector with photos, dates of complaints to the landlord, and any written responses (or lack of response) from the landlord. Many cities allow online reporting through the city website or 311 phone line.

When to contact a lawyer

If you are facing eviction and you believe it is retaliation for reporting fraud, contact a legal aid organization in your area before the court date. If a landlord is threatening you or your family, contact local police. If you are a voucher holder and the PHA has terminated your voucher based on fraud allegations you believe are false, you have the right to a hearing before the PHA — ask about this when you receive the termination notice.

Legal aid organizations are free and can help you understand your rights and represent you in hearings. Search "[your state] legal aid" or call 211 to find a local office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report fraud if I am not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. Immigration status does not prevent you from reporting fraud to the PHA or HUD. You can report anonymously if you are concerned about your status. The PHA is required to investigate regardless of who files the report.

What if I reported fraud but nothing seems to be happening?

Investigations take time — often two to three months. After 90 days, call the PHA fraud hotline and ask for a status update. You can ask whether the case is still open without revealing that you filed the report. If the PHA says the case is closed, you can ask whether fraud was found (they may not tell you, but it is worth asking).

Can a landlord find out who reported them?

Not usually. The PHA keeps your identity confidential. However, if the case goes to court or criminal charges are filed, your identity may become public through court documents. If you are concerned about this, discuss it with the PHA investigator when you report.

What if the person I am reporting is my family member or roommate?

You can still report. Fraud is fraud regardless of your relationship. If you are worried about conflict, you can report anonymously. If you live with the person and the fraud is confirmed, the voucher may be terminated, which could affect your housing — understand this before you report.

Does reporting fraud affect my own voucher or benefits?

No. Reporting fraud does not trigger an investigation into your own voucher unless you are part of the fraud being reported. The PHA investigates the person or landlord you report, not you.