Yes—but not in the manner that you might think. That is, the Act does not say that it is illegal, for example, to provide faulty brakes for an Army jeep. Instead, the False Claims Act is much more general.  Its provisions make it illegal for any "person" to:

1) Knowingly present or cause to be presented to the United States a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(1));

2) Knowingly make, use, or cause to be made or used a false record or statement to get a false or fraudulent claim paid or approved (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(2));

3) Conspire to defraud the United States by getting a false or fraudulent claim allowed or paid (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(3));

4) Intending to defraud the Government or to conceal property or money in his possession or control, delivers or causes to be delivered less property or money than the amount reflected on the receipt (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(4));

5) Intending to defraud the Government, makes or delivers a receipt without knowing that the information on the receipt is true (31 U.S.C. §3729(a)(5));

6) Knowingly buys property from a Government employee who lawfully may not sell such property (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(6)); or

7) Knowingly makes, uses or causes to be made or used a false record or statement to conceal, avoid, or decrease an obligation to pay money or property to the Government (31 U.S.C. § 3729(a)(7)).

Return to Search Results