The United States government relies on the good faith and intentions of individuals and companies when they do business with the Government. This includes situations where a party seeks to take advantage of a government program or any other scenario where the government makes a payment.

The False Claims Act (FCA) outlines prohibited conduct. It states that any person or business entity that knowingly submits a false claim to the government for payment or to avoid payment as otherwise required. The penalties for a violation include the payment of fines. Clearly, the government has a broad interest in enforcing these laws, but unfortunately, it often lacks the resources to do so.

As a result, the FCA allows private citizens to blow the whistle on others who they believe have violated this law. These Qui Tam writs can result in a monetary reward to a whistleblower. A Columbia false claims act lawyer could help individuals who want to serve as whistleblowers that instigate a government investigation. Call today for help.

Examples of Prohibited Acts under the False Claims Act

The purpose of the False Claims Act (FCA) is to ensure that citizens and businesses do not take financial advantage of the federal government. According to 31 United States Code § 3729, it is illegal for any party to knowingly submit a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval. Additionally, it is illegal to manipulate any financial or filing data in an attempt to bolster a fraudulent claim.

Examples of violations may include:

  • Submitting a false timecard as a government contractor
  • Providing inaccurate data on a mortgage application with government backing
  • Overcharging for material goods under a government contract
  • Knowingly failing to meet deadlines to provide goods or services

Violations of this law can result in severe financial penalties for individuals and companies. Even so, the government relies on the eyes and ears of citizens to identify acts of fraud. A False Claims Act attorney in Columbia could help concerned individuals investigate whether FCA violations have occurred.

The False Claims Act and Writs of Qui Tam

31 United States Code § 3730(c)(5) prescribes the reward that citizens may receive upon the successful completion of an FCA investigation. In short, it states that a citizen who blows the whistle on an event that leads to a new and successful case shall receive at least 15 but no more than 25 percent of the proceeds of the action or settlement in the case. However, certain parties are ineligible for these rewards. They include:

  • The whistleblower was convicted of a criminal act related to the FCA violation
  • When there is already another example of a Qui Tam filing related to the conduct
  • The government already had notice of the apparent fraud

A Columbia FCA Qui Tam attorney could help parties determine if they will be eligible for a reward if they serve as a whistleblower.

Reporting Violations of the False Claims Act Could Come with Monetary Reward

Every party that deals with the federal government does so with the understanding that they have a duty not to commit fraud. Even so, every day, hundreds or thousands of instances of underreporting earnings, failing to provide services, or the providing of false data does exactly this. With such widespread fraud, the government relies on citizens to blow the whistle when they witness such activity.

A Columbia False Claims Act lawyer could help people who believe that they have witnessed violations of the FCA. They can work to file whistleblower reports, provide more information about the Qui Tam rewards program, and help people collect rewards after filing reports of new and legitimate FCA violations. Reach out to an FCA Qui Tam attorney today to get started.

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