October 12, 2026
Yap — Yap Governor Francis Itimai has issued a proclamation declaring November 15–21, 2026, as International Fraud Awareness Week in Yap State, calling attention to the financial and institutional damage caused by fraud and the importance of preventing, detecting, and reporting fraudulent activities.
According to a Facebook post from the Yap State Government, Itimai issued the proclamation on October 12, joining governments, organizations, and communities around the world in recognizing the annual awareness campaign.
The proclamation emphasizes that fraud involving public resources imposes costs on citizens and businesses, reduces government revenues, and damages public confidence in government institutions.
Itimai cited estimates from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), an international organization dedicated to reducing fraud, that a typical organization loses approximately five percent of its annual revenue to fraudulent activities.
The proclamation also identifies government institutions as frequent targets of fraud and warns that misconduct by individual employees can damage the reputations of public servants who perform their responsibilities honestly.
“Instances of fraud in state government undermine the good work and reputation of all state employees who complete their assigned duties with integrity and honesty and decrease confidence in public officials,” the proclamation said.
The Governor further emphasized that fraud against the state creates financial burdens extending beyond the immediate loss of public funds.
According to the proclamation, those costs include lost government revenues and resources, increased expenses for investigations and prosecutions, and the costs associated with incarcerating individuals convicted of fraudulent activities.
The proclamation places particular importance on the role of government employees in identifying and reporting suspected fraud.
It notes that information provided by employees is consistently the largest source through which fraudulent activities are detected.
The Governor called for greater employee awareness of the extent of fraud and improved education on methods for preventing, detecting, and reporting misconduct.
Such measures, the proclamation said, are essential to reducing fraud both against the Yap State Government and within its operations.
The declaration also draws attention to the broader consequences of fraud for public administration, including the loss of resources that could otherwise support government programs and services.
International Fraud Awareness Week is an annual initiative associated with the ACFE that encourages organizations to educate employees and the public about fraud risks, prevention measures, and reporting procedures.
The Yap State Government’s announcement did not identify any specific fraud cases or indicate whether the state plans to conduct training sessions, public awareness activities, or other events during the November observance.
The proclamation formally establishes Yap State’s participation in the international campaign and calls attention to the responsibility of government institutions and employees to protect public resources and maintain public trust.
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