DOJ flooded with thousands of fraud tips after cash incentive launch, Trump official says
The Trump administration's new fraud whistleblower program has received thousands of tips in just days, according to a Justice Department official.
The Trump administration's new fraud whistleblower program has received thousands of tips in just days, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin McDonald revealed Saturday. The Justice Department is ramping up its crackdown on fraud through this novel approach that offers upfront payments to tipsters.
President Donald Trump announced the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program on Tuesday, which offers qualifying tipsters a 1% commission on recovered funds. Unlike previous whistleblower programs, participants receive payment upon arrest rather than waiting until the end of a case.
We are going to do new things, and this whistleblower program is an example of that, where folks can get upfront payment when there is an arrest and not have to wait to the very end of a case.
Fraud crackdown expands
The new initiative comes as the administration intensifies efforts to combat fraud involving federal benefit programs. A recent 50-day enforcement surge targeting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) uncovered approximately $40 million in alleged fraud involving more than 40 suspects.
McDonald acknowledged that recovering stolen taxpayer money can be challenging but emphasized that the Justice Department is building an "asset recovery team of specialists" to track down fraud proceeds and pursue forfeiture of property purchased with stolen funds.
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