Fraud By The Numbers

Fraud By The Numbers Series

  • FY 2024 at the IRS Whistleblower Office: Improved Processing Times, the Third Highest Awards Total, and More

    The IRS Whistleblower Office published their annual fiscal year (“FY”) report for 2024. Since the whistleblower program began in 2007, the agency has collected $7.37 billion as a result of whistleblower tips. FY 2024 saw an increase in award totals, but an overall decrease in the number of awards. In FY 2024, the Whistleblower Office…

  • The Power of Private Equity Versus Enforcement: Whistleblowers Can Bridge the Gap

    Over the past decade, private equity (PE) firms have dramatically increased their presence in the U.S. economy, including in critical sectors like healthcare and government procurement that involve millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. This expansion, driven by the pursuit of new revenue streams and operational efficiencies, has reshaped these industries. However, alongside this growth,…

  • Whistleblowers Can Reverse the Decline in Defense FCA Cases

    Each year in Fraud by the Numbers, we have lamented the historic decline in defense contracting False Claims Act (FCA) cases. It’s an ironic trend given the FCA’s origin as a means of fighting fraud by military contractors in the Civil War. In 2024, the federal government recovered about $93 million in Department of Defense…

  • SEC Individual Charges

    This installment of the Fraud by the Numbers series, we turn to the latest U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) statistics on enforcement actions against individuals. For those who are unfamiliar, the SEC provides a link specific to actions against individuals (aka SEC Action Lookup – Individuals (SALI)). Like other U.S. Government Agencies, including the U.S.…

  • State-Level Crypto Fraud Enforcement

    Cryptocurrency-related fraud remains big business, with the FBI reporting $9.3 billion in cryptocurrency fraud losses in 2024, a 66% increase from 2023. In addition to federal enforcement, it is important to remember that state securities regulators play an active role in protecting investors against fraud, including in the crypto space.   State attorneys general have…

  • Kickbacks: A New Enforcement Priority in Medicare Advantage

    This post is a combination of two oft-covered topics: kickbacks and the Medicare Advantage program.Kickbacks, in all shapes and sizes, have been an enforcement priority for years. But most Medicare kickback cases have involved either the traditional Medicare program (also known as Parts A and B), or Medicare’s prescription drug program (Part D). In the…

  • Busting Modern-Day Trusts with the Help of Whistleblowers

    Teddy Roosevelt is known as the youngest person to be sworn in as President of the United States when he assumed office after President McKinley was assassinated. But as the 26th President of the United States Teddy Roosevelt quickly became known for his willingness to use the Sherman Antitrust Act, signed into law in 1890,…

  • COVID-19 Fraud: Five Years In, Five More to Go

    The CARES Act: A Lifeline—and a Loophole The CARES Act was designed to prevent economic collapse during the pandemic lockdowns. Through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Congress authorized over $1 trillion in loans and grants to more than 10 million small businesses between 2020 and 2022.…

  • State False Claims Act

    This installment of the Fraud by the Numbers series, we turn to the State False Claims Act (FCA) statutes. To recap several, but not all states and territories have FCA statutes and some are healthcare specific. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) provides a list of…

  • Four State Medicaid Fraud Statutes Provide Whistleblowers with Additional Remedies and Protections

    When a whistleblower uncovers Medicaid fraud, federal and state False Claims Act statutes can remedy the fraud and protect whistleblowers. But only 29 states have these statutory protections. However, four states have Medicaid-only statutes to allow whistleblowers to report fraud and receive some protections. But how effective are these Medicaid-only laws? Let’s look at the…