Reporting Government Grant Fraud
This article shows you how to get a reward for reporting grant fraud against the government.
Approximately ten percent of government spending is lost to fraud. One key area is grant fraud and research fraud. The government pays hundreds of millions of dollars to companies in grants to conduct research or perform other specific tasks. When a company uses the grant money for any goods or services other than what they specified in the grant application, it is fraud and they must repay the grant funds. A whistleblower is entitled to a reward for reporting grand fraud.
The government is asking whistleblowers to report grant fraud against the government. The government is willing to pay significant monetary rewards for reporting grant fraud. But, you need to follow specific rules and procedures for reporting the grant fraud to receive a reward and to ensure that the government opens an investigation to confirm your allegations of grant fraud.
What and how to report grant fraud
This article outlines the basics for how to correctly report the government grant fraud and how to apply for a whistleblower reward for reporting grant fraud.
First, it is not enough to call a government fraud hotline. It is not enough to report the fraud to the agency that was defrauded. How to get a reward for reporting grant fraud requires that you use an attorney (on a contingency fee basis consisting of a portion of any whistleblower reward) to file a qui tam suit under the False Claims Act. Therefore, it is key that you select an attorney experienced with handling grant fraud reward applications.
In addition, you need to report very specific information about the grant fraud. The government doesn’t have time or resources to investigate every allegation and the government turns down 75 percent of whistleblower reward applications. That’s why it is very important that your lawyer organize the information in a clear and convincing manner.
How much reward for reporting grant fraud
The size of a grant fraud whistleblower reward is calculated based on the size of the grant fraud. The reward is between 15 and 25 percent of the amount the government recovers back from the company receiving the grant.
Examples of grant fraud
The federal and state governments fund a wide variety of research, education, or special projects not only in the area of health care, but education, military and almost every agency. When the government funds a project, it is for a specific purpose. Anytime the grant recipient uses funds for any other purpose it is grant fraud.
An example of grant fraud is shifting funds from one grant onto another grant. For instance, if a research hospital has two grants, but runs low on funding on one, it is grant fraud to use funds from the second grant to do research or tasks on the first grant. Another example of grant fraud is when a recipient of a grant mischaracterize their qualifications. Grant fraud can also occur when the grantee misstates the basis of its research or overstates the quality or extent of services they will provide. It is also grant fraud to lie or falsify information or data to get the grant or keep the grant.
The ways grant recipients cheat is endless and limited only by imagination. Basically, the grant funds must be spent in the exact manner as stated in the grant application or it is grant fraud and the portion of the misused grant must be repaid. Good intentions or worthy causes is not a defense. The grant application and grant approval documents must be strictly followed or it is grant fraud.
How to report grant fraud
Because there are certain risks for reporting fraud against the government, including the government (post office), you should talk to an attorney experienced with whistleblower reward cases before you blow the whistle and report the government (post office) fraud.
This website (and the books authored by Mr. Hesch) walk you through the entire process of reporting grant fraud against the government and shows you how to report grant fraud and obtain a whistleblower reward.
The link below “Do I have a case” shows you how to ask Mr. Hesch to review your potential grant fraud case and how to get a reward for reporting grant fraud against the government. Mr. Hesch has vast experience with investigating fraud against the federal government while working at the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., including grant fraud cases. He is ready to review your information and show you whether and how to report grant fraud.
The link below “Report Fraud” has more information regarding how to get a reward for reporting grant fraud against the government.