The False Claims Act (FCA) has been one of the most important laws against fraud for more than a century. The law is often called the Lincoln Law because Abraham Lincoln himself was the one who signed it.
It was originally intended to prevent fraud against the Union Army by the companies that were contracted to provide food, equipment, and weapons. After the civil war, it was amended several times until it reached its current strength.
Most of the “bite” of the FCA comes from its qui tam provision. This provision allows anyone who has evidence of fraud to file on the government’s behalf and claim a percentage of all funds recovered.
The FCA has a wide reach, affecting dozens of different federal programs. As a result, there are several different kinds of fraud that are covered, including all the following.