Why You Should Report Fraud

Defrauding the government has become a massive business. What’s that got to do with me I hear you ask, the government can afford it and it doesn’t affect me in anyway.

You are oh so wrong! Fraud affects everyone.

$100s of billions are defrauded from the government coffers every year, with Medicaid fraud without doubt being the biggest contributing factor. It is estimated that it costs the government $30 billion dollars annually.

The government puts billions of dollars both into Medicare and Medicaid just to keep the service out of debt and able to run. The necessity to pump money into the healthcare system means that other services have to take the brunt, and maybe these are services that your children or elderly relatives need to use, but due to lack of funding have been cut back or, closed completely. By defrauding the government, the culprits are actually affecting every American citizen in some way, whether that is by dwindling services in specific areas or, by the government having to increase taxes.

Maybe the above is just a small insight as to why you should report fraud and as to how it can affect each and every US citizen.

How do I report suspected fraud?

Anyone can report fraud, whether it has been committed by an individual, a small business or a large organisation. If you know either directly or through someone else telling you, that fraud is being committed by your employer, then your first stop should be to contact an attorney who specialises in this field. They will be able to take you through the process step by step, and tell you if there is a case to answer. If they consider the information you have given is enough to bring a case against the person or persons responsible for the fraud, they will be able to either talk to the relevant authorities for you, or point you in the right direction and explain precisely what you need to do.

Can I remain anonymous?

The answer to this is yes. By reporting fraud you have become what is commonly known as a whistleblower. The government have brought in many legislations over the years to afford whistleblowers protection and in some cases monetary reward. The False Claims Act and the Dodd Frank Bill are just two of several safeguards brought in by the government.

Whistleblowers are afforded anonymity and the only people knowing whom ‘spilled the beans’ are the government departments dealing with the case. Your bosses, work colleagues, friends or even neighbours need never know. If by chance, someone in your work organisation should discover that you were the whistleblower and tells your boss, you are once again safeguarded under the above Acts. Your employers are not allowed to terminate your employment, suspend you from the workplace, threaten or harass you in anyway. Doing so would be illegal and you may be able to get compensation as recourse for their actions.

Reward for reporting Fraud

If the case against the person or organisation who committed the fraud is proven, then it may be possible for the whistleblower to claim a monetary reward. The amount paid out as a reward to the whistleblower will depend on the value of the money recovered, but can be anything from 15-30%. What better incentive does anyone need to help the government crack down on this huge illegal business? It is your moral duty to report fraud.

Reporting fraud, really is the right thing to do, it affects every single American citizen.

Previously ‘spilling the beans’, ‘telling tales’, ‘ratting on’, whatever you want to call it, would have made you feel like a piranha, out on your own with everyone against you. Things have changed and more and more. Americans are now doing the ‘right thing’ and reporting fraud.