The False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam provision financially incentivizes and protections from retaliation blowing the whistle on fraud. Many people do not realize that qui tam whistleblowers can come from all walks of life. They can receive substantial rewards for their honesty from the government if they qualify. If you can report on money that has been either wrongfully claimed or withheld from the federal government, you may be eligible to become a qui tam whistleblower.
Qui tam is shortened from the Latin phrase, “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur.” This roughly translates to “he who brings an action on behalf of the king as well as himself." Qui tam law originated in fourteenth century England, when the king would deputize citizens to report on instances of lawbreaking in exchange for a reward. The legal concept was incorporated into the False Claims Act under President Abraham Lincoln, and has been a key component of fraud recovery for the federal government ever since.
In 1863, the Union Army was struggling to get through a brutal winter during the Civil War. The troops were short on provisions, and were being sold rotten food, ragged clothing and lame mules as they attempted to sustain their military campaign. This was perhaps the first, but certainly not the last, instance of rampant defense contractor fraud in American history.
In response, President Lincoln passed the False Claims Act, which is still in effect...
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