“Trust your gut” is generally good advice. You might hear this from family or friends on personal matters, but what about when something feels off at work? More specifically, what should you do if you suspect fraud in your workplace?
Suspicions of fraud can be difficult to confirm, especially on your own. Whistleblowers, or those who inform authorities about possible fraud, are protected under laws at both the federal and state levels, so that people may come forward without fear of retaliation. Enlisting the help of a whistleblower lawyer in Nebraska is a key step in stopping fraud. Let the attorneys of Tycko & Zavareei LLP help you blow the whistle on fraud taking place in Nebraska.
How Does Fraud Happen in Nebraska?
Fraud can happen in numerous ways. Here are a few ways that people tend to commit fraud against the government:
- Government contract fraud – Nebraska businesses that supply the government with products or services must abide by the terms of their contracts. Common contract violations include:
- Supplying the government with an inferior product than they originally claimed to have
- Failing to deliver what the contract specified
- Failing to provide the government with the “best price” they would charge any of their customers
- Making false statements in order to obtain a contract.
- Healthcare fraud, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud – Healthcare systems are frequent targets of fraud at the federal and state levels. Deceptive practices like false billing or receiving kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies are illegal and harmful to both the government and people trying to get care.
- Tax fraud – Tax fraud is one of the most common types of fraud, often committed by individuals and businesses in order to reduce the amount of taxes they have to pay, increase their tax refund under false pretenses, or avoid their taxes entirely.
Protections and Rewards for Whistleblowers in Nebraska
Whistleblowers are people with insider information about fraud. Most are employees who notice inconsistencies or unethical behavior in the workplace and decide to raise their concerns to the authorities.
The False Claims Act is the federal law that defines protections and rewards for whistleblowers. It was enacted in the 1800s after the United States government noticed a rush of fraud by defense contractors during the Civil War. The contractors would sell the Union Army bad supplies, such as faulty rifles, and pocket the profits.
The law has gone through several amendments to become what it is today: a protective measure and reward system for people who come forward about fraud being committed against the government. It specifically protects employees against retaliation from their employers after disclosing information about fraud. Retaliation may include disciplinary action, demotion, transfer, discrimination, and even termination.
The False Claims Act also offers a reward to whistleblowers in order to incentivize people to speak up. When someone makes a disclosure that leads to a successful qui tam lawsuit and a settlement in the government’s favor, they may be entitled to 15-30 percent of that settlement.
Common Signs of Fraud
To let someone know about government fraud, you first have to realize that it is happening. Organizations that commit fraud tend to be good at covering their tracks, as secrecy is essential in order to maintain the scam. However, there are some red flags which may indicate that something is amiss:
- Coding errors – Mistakes happen, but in a healthcare setting, coding is a vital part of ensuring accuracy in billing. If procedures are being miscoded on a consistent basis, there may be a suspicious reason. Those who notice a high rate of miscoding in Nebraska should contact a whistleblower lawyer at Tycko & Zavareei, LLP. Our attorneys may be able to help to determine whether there is a pattern of misconduct.
- Suspicious or vague tax write-offs – When filing taxes, businesses often claim deductions in order to get some money back for business expenses. However, some people try to claim deductions for things that do not qualify (personal travel, meals, etc.) and may write these expenses off under innocuous-sounding deductions like “office supplies.”
- “Disappearing” projects – Disappearing projects are often caught by people who work in the finance department. A company may receive a large sum of money for a “new gymnasium” or an “overhaul of the training program,” but never actually implement these projects and pocket the money instead.
Nebraska Whistleblower Laws
When most people think of fraud against the government, they think of the nation’s capital and the federal government. While the federal government is one of the most well-known targets of fraud, it happens at the state level as well. Fraud, whistleblowing, and employer retaliation can and do happen right here in Nebraska.
In order to help combat healthcare fraud against the state government, Nebraska passed the Nebraska False Medicaid Claims Act and created a Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit. Together, these measures help fight financial fraud committed against the state’s Medicaid program and helps ensure that Medicaid patients receive proper care.
Work with a Nebraska Whistleblower Attorney
Hiring a lawyer to help with your Nebraska False Claims Act case is the first thing you should do once you decide to come forward about potential instances of fraud. Whistleblowers in the United States are required to retain a lawyer, and Tycko & Zavareei, LLP has a team of diligent whistleblower lawyers licensed to practice in Nebraska. Contact us today to find out how we can help with your case.
