Fraud by program in California
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | 33 | California Medicare cases |
| PPP/EIDL | 27 | California PPP/EIDL cases |
| Unemployment | 18 | California Unemployment cases |
| Medicaid | 13 | California Medicaid cases |
| Other federal program | 7 | |
| SNAP | 6 | All SNAP cases |
| Social Security | 4 | All Social Security cases |
| Disaster | 4 | All Disaster cases |
| TRICARE | 4 | All TRICARE cases |
| Housing | 2 | All Housing cases |
| VA benefits | 2 | All VA benefits cases |
| Child care | 1 | All Child care cases |
Where to report fraud in California
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse (DMFEA) · Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice · 800-722-0432 |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | California Department of Social Services: Reporting Welfare Fraud (CalFresh/CalWORKs; Fraud Referral Hotline 1-800-344-TIPS, FraudHotline@dss.ca.gov) |
| Unemployment benefits | Employment Development Department (EDD): Help Us Fight Fraud (hotline 1-800-229-6297) |
| Medicare and other HHS programs | HHS-OIG · 1-800-HHS-TIPS |
| Any WHIP-covered federal program, if you want a reward | America.gov/fraud (how to submit) |
Whistleblower rewards in California
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| California False Claims Act Covers all state funds (and political subdivision funds); claims under the Revenue and Taxation Code excluded (§ 12651(f)) | 15–33% if the state or political subdivision proceeds; 25–50% if it does not (§ 12652(g)(2)–(3)) | Cal. Gov. Code §§ 12650–12656 |
| Federal WHIP | $10,000–$30,000 per tip that leads to criminal charges | DOJ terms |
| Federal False Claims Act | 15–25% of the recovery if the government intervenes; 25–30% if not | 31 U.S.C. § 3730(d) |
The AG's 'fixed 33%' share is separate from the relator's share. SB 799 (2025) would have extended the CFCA to tax fraud, but no enactment was found, and the code text accessed Oct. 2026 still excludes Revenue and Taxation Code claims. Medi-Cal beneficiary fraud goes to the Department of Health Care Services (1-800-822-6222), not DMFEA. Statute text was read from california.public.law (a mirror of leginfo, which blocks automated access).
Estimate federal awards for your case with the calculator, or compare programs in WHIP vs the False Claims Act.
Latest announcements
Source: U.S. Department of Justice press releases, classified by WHIP Reward. Each row is one press release; the same case can appear at several stages, so amounts should not be added. Charged cases are allegations. Search all 108 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in California?
Report provider fraud to the Division of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse (DMFEA) (Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice), or to the HHS Office of Inspector General at 1-800-HHS-TIPS. To be eligible for a federal WHIP award, also submit the tip in writing at America.gov/fraud.
Does California pay whistleblowers?
Yes. Under the California False Claims Act (Cal. Gov. Code §§ 12650–12656), a whistleblower who files a case receives 15–33% if the state or political subdivision proceeds; 25–50% if it does not (§ 12652(g)(2)–(3)). Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in California?
108 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 31 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- oag.ca.gov/dmfea
- oag.ca.gov/dmfea/reporting
- oag.ca.gov/dmfea/contact
- oag.ca.gov/cfs/falseclaims
- california.public.law/codes/ca_gov't_code_section_12652
- california.public.law/codes/ca_gov't_code_section_12651
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/fraud
- cdss.ca.gov/reporting/report-fraud/welfare-fraud
- edd.ca.gov/en/about_edd/fraud
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)