Qui Tam Blog
Can a Qui Tam Whistleblower Remain Anonymous?
Whistleblowers often risk losing their jobs, getting demoted, or damaging their professional reputations when reporting that a company or person has committed fraud against the government. In some situations, whistleblowers may even risk their safety. As a result of these risks, many potential whistleblowers want to know whether their identities will remain anonymous after… Read More »
Improvements to the IRS Whistleblower Program Signed Into Law
On July 1, 2019, President Trump signed into law the Taxpayer First Act, which was an effort by Congress to “redesign” the Internal Revenue Service. According to the IRS, the law aims to “strengthen taxpayer rights” and requires the agency to “develop a comprehensive customer service strategy.” Among other changes, the Taxpayer First Act… Read More »
My Boss is Committing Fraud. What Now?
Many employees wake up one day to find themselves in a terrible situation: their boss is committing fraud in the workplace. This poses a serious dilemma of what to do next. Confront the boss? Report the boss to management? Report the fraud to the government? Do nothing? The answer, of course, is “it all… Read More »
What is Genetic Testing Fraud?
Cancer genomic testing, also known as CGX testing, is a type of laboratory test that uses DNA sequencing to detect gene mutations that could indicate a higher risk cancer. In essence, this is a cancer screening test. Medicare covers CGX testing in very limited circumstances. CGX testing is very expensive, with the government paying… Read More »
Florida Qui Tam Actions: Illegal Activities and Penalties Arising Under the Florida False Claims Act
The Florida False Claims Act (FFCA), Florida Statutes §68.081 – §68.092, is modeled after the federal False Claims Act that helps people sue and recover from fraudulent activity committed against Florida state government entities. The FFCA allows a whistleblower (also called a “relator”) to file a qui tam whistleblower lawsuit if they are aware… Read More »
How does the IRS Whistleblower Program Work?
In some cases, the IRS will pay an award to people who “blow the whistle” on people who don’t pay the taxes they owe. The IRS relies on information provided to them to investigate some of these cases, which can pay off for the whistleblower with an award of up to 30 percent of… Read More »
The Importance of Whistleblowers to Help Detect Crime and Fraud
Whistleblowers are people who expose activities or information that are considered unethical or illegal. Some government programs, such as Medicare, rely heavily on whistleblowers to report criminal activity. In a recent interview, former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said more than 10 percent of Medicare’s budget is lost to waste and fraud. He stated… Read More »
What is the Florida False Claims Act?
A number of states have enacted their own false claims acts that address state fraud. In Florida, there is the Florida False Claims Act, which was modeled after the federal version and offers some of the same protections to the local state government. False claims include actions such as healthcare fraud and procurement fraud…. Read More »
Potentially Fraudulent Activity Tied to Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)
Earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged two individuals who profited from the illegal stock sales of a business that claimed to have a related blockchain business. Blockchain business investments and initial coin offerings can be risky, so much so that the SEC has issued multiple investor bulletins in the past… Read More »
What are Protected Disclosures in the Whistleblower Protection Act?
Whistleblower laws are designed to protect employees from employer retaliation in the event they voluntarily disclose information about illegal or dishonest activities taking place against a government organization. The Whistleblower Act (WPA) was enacted in 1989 and covers a number of disclosures. Proving Whistleblower Retaliation In order to prove retaliation, a whistleblower is required… Read More »
