waste, fraud, and abuse

Waste, fraud, and abuse refer to inappropriate or improper use of resources, especially in organizations or government programs. Waste involves unnecessary or inefficient spending that doesn't benefit the organization. Fraud is intentionally deceiving or misrepresenting facts to gain money or benefits illegally. Abuse occurs when resources are used improperly or excessively, even if not illegal, such as overutilization or violating rules. All three undermine the integrity, efficiency, and fairness of systems, leading to lost resources and diminished trust. Recognizing and preventing these issues is essential to maintaining cost-effective and ethical operations.