When most people think of whistleblowers who expose government contract fraud, they probably picture “insiders” at companies that cheat the government. Indeed, the federal False Claims Act, a key whistleblower law, requires that information or evidence of fraud, waste or abuse come from an “original source.” But there’s no requirement that the original source be someone inside the company. Outsiders with the right information can blow the whistle, too. Indeed, in some situations, the best … [Read more...]
Healthcare Fraud Whistleblowers: Attorney General Nominee Affirms Commitment to Fighting Fraud
In confirmation hearings this week, the Trump administration's nominee for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, vowed this week that he would use his position as America's "top cop" to continue to fight fraud against taxpayers. "[T]his government must improve its ability to protect the United States Treasury from waste, fraud, and abuse," Sessions told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday. "We cannot afford to lose a single dollar to corruption and you can be sure that if I am confirmed, I will … [Read more...]
Nursing Home Fraud: How Whistleblowers Stop It With the False Claims Act
Healthcare fraud puts patients’ lives at risk and costs billions of dollars every year, and nursing home fraud is among its most damaging forms. Nursing homes, which house vulnerable patients away from loved ones and the outside world, are especially fertile breeding grounds for healthcare fraud schemes. While government agencies have stepped up their enforcement efforts, nursing home workers who witness fraud are in the best position to put it to a stop—and thanks to federal and state … [Read more...]
Whistleblower Social Media Risks: The Dangers of Posting Before You File
Whistleblower social media use carries real risks. Being a whistleblower can be a lonely pursuit. You uncover wrongdoing by your employer. You report what you found to your supervisor. He tells you to ignore it and go back to doing your job. But you can’t. You’ve discovered that your employer has defrauded the U.S. government out of millions of dollars. You know that ignoring it isn’t the right thing to do. You’re just not sure what your next step should be. You talk to your spouse. You ask … [Read more...]
Whistleblower Confidentiality Agreements: Feds Target Monetary Recovery Waivers
A defense contractor accused of using restrictive severance agreements that would “chill” whistleblowers has agreed to settle the accusations and pay $265,000 in penalties, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced. The announcement marks the latest victory in the federal government’s ongoing campaign to encourage and reward whistleblowers, including employees who uncover fraud, waste and abuse in their workplaces. It’s also a sign that federal regulators’ crackdown on companies that use … [Read more...]