AMTRAK VENDOR FAILED TO PROTECT AND SECURE FUEL CARDS

An Amtrak vendor in Boston, Massachusetts, did not properly secure and protect Wright Express (WEX) fuel cards assigned to three vehicles, which Amtrak leases from the General Services Administration (GSA). This resulted in GSA billing the company for fraudulent or otherwise inappropriate transactions totaling $2,745. The company’s contract requires the vendor and its onsite employees to comply with the company’s policies concerning conduct and security. The contract also states that the vendor will be exclusively responsible for the theft or loss that occurs as a result of their failure to maintain adequate security. The vendor agreed to reimburse Amtrak $2,745 for the fraudulent charges. On January 10, 2023, Amtrak management implemented procedures to ensure compliance and proper use of the WEX fuel cards.

We also determined that the vendor’s failure to adequately control the WEX cards allowed a former vendor driver to use these fuel cards to fuel his personally owned vehicles for fraudulent fuel purchases totaling $760. The vendor terminated the driver on October 28, 2022.