Do you have insider knowledge of governmental fraud? Maybe your job left you exposed to information proving that your employer was defrauding a government agency.
What can you do? What are the rights and responsibilities of qui tam relators? Read on to learn more about the whistleblowing process.
All whistleblowing is not qui tam
That’s an important distinction, because while qui tam cases involve whistleblowing, not all whistleblowing cases qualify as qui tam.
Here’s how it works. If you worked in the construction industry and saw egregious safety lapses occurring, you could “blow the whistle” on them by reporting them to OSHA. That would qualify as whistleblowing, and you would be protected from retaliation.
Whistleblowers in qui tam cases are known as “relators.” They report fraud and abuses they uncover in federal systems like the IRS or the SSA. Those agencies can then join with the relators to prove the fraud in court, with the relators receiving a percentage of the total recovery.
Those percentages can add up to significant sums for the relator. But that possibility has to be balanced with potential negatives. Not everyone is prepared to blow the whistle on government misdeeds and accept the fallout that it brings.
Make an informed decision
Before doing anything, learn all that you can about the whistleblowing process and what you want your role to be. That can inform your decision and help guide you on the path you choose.
