The FBI in Honolulu has created a hotline to report fraud related to federal stimulus funds, it was announced today.

“History has shown that when large sums of money become available in the form of government contracts, a sizable percentage of that money can be lost to waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Honolulu FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Montoya, Jr. “We want to ensure that citizens who become aware of fraud have a place to turn.”

FBI officials said anyone with information about fraud related to funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 can call the FBI Governmental Fraud Hotline 545-2577.

About $1.5 billion in stimulus funds has been awarded in Hawaii, according to FBI officials, including $203 million to the state Department of Education; $174 million to the University of Hawaii; $151 million to the Department of Transportation; $85 million to the City and County of Honolulu; and $78 million to the Executive Office of the State of Hawaii.