Whistleblowers win with False Claims Act, but does it actually deter fraud?

This report aired on PBS NewsHour Weekend on December 21, 2014.

Last year alone, the federal government and its whistleblowers — people incentivized by the False Claims Act to expose fraud in companies that work with the government — recovered nearly $6 billion in lawsuits that exposed wrongdoing. But some question whether the False Claims Act actually prevents fraud or merely incentivizes people with potential reward money.

Producers: Sam Weber and Saskia de Melker
Camera: Sam Weber and Saskia de Melker
Editors: Saskia de Melker and Judith Wolff
Correspondent: Rick Karr