What is Qui Tam? A Whistleblower's Guide

A plain-English explainer of qui tam lawsuits — what the term means, how the False Claims Act works, and how relators get paid for exposing fraud against the government.

All resourcesWhat is Qui Tam?A whistleblower's guide to the lawsuit that pays you to expose fraud.

Submit Your Case SecurelyQui tam is the legal mechanism that lets a private citizen sue a fraudster on the government's behalf — and share in any recovery. It's the engine behind nearly every major federal fraud case you've read about, from healthcare to defense to COVID relief.

Where the name comes from

Qui tam is shorthand for the Latin phrase qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur — “who sues for the king as well as for himself.” It traces back to medieval England, where the crown enlisted ordinary people to report violations in exchange for a cut.

The False Claims Act, in one paragraph

The federal False Claims Act (FCA), enacted in 1863 during the Civil War to combat war-profiteering, makes it unlawful to knowingly submit false claims to the federal government. “Knowingly” covers actual knowledge, deliberate ignorance, and reckless disregard. The FCA imposes treble damages plus per-claim civil penalties, and authorizes private citizens — called relators — to sue on the government's behalf.

Who can be a qui tam relator?

Almost anyone with insider knowledge:

Current and former employees

Contractors and subcontractors

Officers and executives

Competitors and industry insiders

Patients, in healthcare cases

Outsiders with reliable evidence of the scheme

Ready to find out where you stand?

It takes 60 seconds and stays confidential.

Submit Your Case SecurelyHow a qui tam case actually moves01Filing under sealThe case is filed in federal district court under seal — visible only to the government and the court. The seal starts at 60 days and is typically extended.

02Government investigationDOJ (often with the relevant agency Inspector General) investigates while the case stays sealed. This can take months to several years.

03Intervention decisionDOJ either intervenes (joins the case as plaintiff) or declines. If it intervenes, the case becomes the United States v. Defendant. If it declines, the relator can choose to proceed alone.

04ResolutionMost cases settle. If the government recovers, the relator's statutory share is paid: 15–25% for intervened cases, 25–30% for declined cases.

What gets prosecuted as qui tam

Healthcare fraud — Medicare and Medicaid overbilling, kickbacks, medically unnecessary services

Defense and procurement fraud

Government grant and research fraud

COVID relief fraud (PPP, EIDL, Provider Relief Fund)

Customs and trade — duty evasion

Mortgage and housing program fraud

Why timing matters: the first-to-file rule

The FCA awards the reward to the first qualifying relator. If someone else files with the same material facts before you do, you're out — even if your information is better. Combined with statutes of limitations (generally six years, capped at ten), this is why speed is one of the most underrated factors in qui tam strategy.

By the numbers

Total recoveries under the FCA since 1986 — well over $70 billion

Of that, more than $53 billion came from qui tam (whistleblower-initiated) cases

Single-relator awards have exceeded $100 million on multiple occasions

Keep reading

How to be a whistleblowerThe step-by-step process from evidence to filing.

Whistleblower rewards and payoutsHow the percentages and statutory damages stack.

Do I have a whistleblower claim?Quick test for whether your facts can sustain a qui tam case.

Frequently asked questions

Have information about fraud?

Take the quiz or submit your case securely — whichever feels right.

Ready to find out where you stand?

It takes 60 seconds and stays confidential.

Take the 2-min quiz Submit securely

← Back to all resources