Federal agencies face an uphill battle when it comes to combating fraud. There are countless contractors that do business with the federal government, which lacks the resources needed to ensure each transaction is above board.

In an effort to prevent people from defrauding the government, congress has authorized whistleblowers to recover a financial award for turning over evidence of wrongdoing. This is possible under the False Claims Act.

A Columbia False Claims Act lawyer could review your case and advise you on whether or not you might be entitled to compensation. Cooperating with the government and exposing fraud is a complex process but comes with substantial benefits. Contact our law office today to have an experienced whistleblower attorney advise you of your legal options.

Understanding the False Claims Act

Thousands of contractors and companies request payment for services or goods provided to the federal government each year. Most of the time, these requests are valid attempts to recover payment to businesses that provide vital support for state or federal agencies. Unfortunately, some of these requests are fraudulent or made in bad faith.

The False Claims Act governs these payments and punishes any attempt to commit fraud by submitting fraudulent payment requests. It is illegal to falsely submit a claim. These actions can take different forms, like billing for services that were never rendered or charging twice for work that was performed once.

The downside is that most agencies lack the resources to fully police violations of the act. To assist in these efforts, the law offers whistleblowers financial compensation when they provide tips that lead to convictions. A False Claims Act attorney in Columbia could provide insight into this process.

Serving as a Whistleblower

Providing the government with inside information regarding acts of fraud has benefits. These details can come from a company employee involved in the wrongdoing, and most adults are authorized to pursue a monetary award in this way.

The information provided must be new to the government in order to qualify for an award. If the federal agency has previously received the same tip from someone else, an award is not available.

In addition, compensation is only possible in cases where the tip leads to a conviction or administration action that recovers funds from the perpetrator. In that scenario, a person could recover 15 to 25 percent of the money recouped from the wrongdoer.

Whistleblower Disqualifications

Not everyone is allowed to pursue compensation by serving as a whistleblower. For starters, anyone involved in a criminal scheme may not recover compensation for providing details of their crime. Additionally, anyone legally obligated to report this information is not entitled to an award. Examples include law enforcement officers and certain government employees.

Getting the most out of this process can be difficult without help. A False Claims Act lawyer in Columbia could evaluate the strength of the information and advise on obtaining compensation.

Schedule a Meeting With a False Claims Act Attorney in Columbia Today

The federal government provides incentives in the form of financial payments to anyone with information regarding fraud. If you believe you can provide an actionable tip, a Columbia False Claims Act lawyer may be able to help. Reach out to our law office as soon as possible for a private consultation with our knowledgeable legal team.

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