Facing a crisis in your workplace and notice a fraud happening right before your eyes? You might have a lot of questions in your mind. First and foremost is how to report it. You might want to report it, but you do not know where to start. You might also feel hesitant, as there might be consequences of the action. Even if you aren’t involved in those cases.
There are indeed a lot of unknowns that could happen. To ensure you’re being careful and to give you peace of mind, here are some insights that you should know.
Everything About Fraud Reporting at Work
There are lots of meanings of fraud. But in this case, we will strictly refer to businesses that take money from the US government. Some of the cases that could involve this type of fraud are Medicare fraud and nursing home fraud.
There are many different loopholes for programs for goods and services from the government. Many irresponsible people might charge the government for something, but actually, it is not delivered at all. Due to the wide possibility of fraud happening, specific laws have been created to encourage people to report fraud. So the whistleblower doesn’t have to be afraid of the backlash that might happen. This is known as the False Claims Act. This law can help protect the whistleblower from losing their job and also receive a portion of the money recovered in the lawsuit.
Although it’s important to keep in mind that the rule for this law is complicated. Additionally, it might also vary across different industries and states.
When Should You Report Fraud?
As usual, most people who report fraud are employees of the company, and it is normal to feel hesitant to report it. But you should remember, if you are aware of fraud, you are obligated to report it. If you do not, you may be found guilty of the case as well when it’s uncovered.
One of the most common forms of fraud is within the Medicare program. In some cases, some might unknowingly be involved in the fraudulent activities. But you don’t have to worry; in this case, you can still be the whistleblower. You should still hire an attorney and file the fraud complaint.
How to Report a Fraud at Work?
The first step that you should take is to hire a lawyer who is experienced with the False Claims Act, such as the Bothwell Law Group.
Choosing an attorney who is familiar with this type of law can improve the outcome of the case. There are so many important things about the statutes of limitations, and different kinds of penalties and protections for the whistleblowers. Hiring a lawyer who understands all of the ins and outs of this area of law can give you peace of mind. The lawyer can help to verify the faces and even prepare a complaint on your behalf as the whistleblower.
Afterwards, the lawyer will bring all the paperwork to a district court. The document will then be put under seal. No one can see, break the seal, or even disclose anything about the case in order to protect the whistleblower’s identity. During this timeframe, the government will start performing their investigation, without the defendant knowing.
Once everything is complete and the government has done their investigation, it will decide to either intervene or not.
Report Fraud at Work to a Whistleblower Attorney
Hopefully, by now, you are not as hesitant to report a fraudulent activity that you are aware of. Whether it happens in your workplace or any organisation, you should not turn a blind eye to this fraudulent activity. Contact a whistleblower attorney who understands False Claims Act law. This should be your first step before any others.
If the court finds the proof of fraud and you are not participating in the fraud, as the whistleblower, you are entitled to the monies recovered. The amount can vary based on the case itself, but some of the rewards can even reach millions of dollars!
Although hiring the proper attorney might not be easy, you can still do it. One of the best ways to determine the right lawyer for your case is by checking the lawyer’s experience. Especially as whistleblowing cases most of the time become particularly difficult. You should do your research and find out whether the attorney has handled a similar case like yours before.
Find out the outcome of the case and the winning strategies they use when handling the case. Don’t just listen to their empty promise; fact-check their past result from previous clients. This can give you an idea of what the attorney can deliver, and whether hiring them will work in your favour.
