Whistleblowers under the False Claims Act may receive what incentive?

• A. They do not benefit
• B. They may receive a share of recovered funds
• C. They are immune from prosecution
• D. They receive a government job

Answer: (B)

The incentive is a financial reward tied to the funds recovered from the fraud. In False Claims Act cases, a whistleblower (qui tam relator) can receive a portion of the government’s recovered money as a reward for exposing the fraud. The size of the award depends on whether the government takes the lead in the case: if the government intervenes, the relator typically gets about 15% to 25% of the recovered amount; if the government does not intervene, the relator can receive about 25% to 30%. The payout comes from the proceeds of the recovery, not from the whistleblower’s own funds.