Fraud by program in South Carolina
| Program | Announcements | More |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | 6 | All Medicaid cases |
| Medicare | 4 | All Medicare cases |
| PPP/EIDL | 3 | All PPP/EIDL cases |
| Social Security | 2 | All Social Security cases |
| TRICARE | 2 | All TRICARE cases |
| Unemployment | 1 | All Unemployment cases |
| Other federal program | 1 |
Where to report fraud in South Carolina
| Type of fraud | Report to |
|---|---|
| Medicaid provider fraud | Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit (VAMPF; the state's MFCU) · South Carolina Attorney General's Office · (803) 734-3660; toll-free 1-888-662-4328 (1-888-NO-CHEAT) |
| SNAP, child care assistance, cash assistance | SC Department of Social Services – Program Integrity/Fraud (SNAP and TANF; hotline 1-800-616-1309) |
| Unemployment benefits | SC Department of Employment and Workforce – Unemployment Insurance Fraud (online form; 1-800-868-1488) |
| 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 South Carolina
| Program | What it pays | Law |
|---|---|---|
| State employee reward for reporting wrongdoing (Whistleblower Act) | A state employee whose report of waste or wrongdoing saves public money gets 25% of the estimated net savings in the first year after the fix, capped at $2,000. The Director of the Department of Administration sets the amount. Only state employees qualify, and an employee gets one reward, either under this section or the State Employee Suggestion Program. | S.C. Code § 8-27-20 |
| 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) |
South Carolina law does not pay whistleblowers a share of state recoveries through a false claims lawsuit, so the federal programs are the main route to a reward.
No state false claims act / qui tam law. FCA bills have been filed repeatedly (e.g., S.86 and S.970 in 2023–24) and all died in Senate Judiciary. Medicaid provider false claims fall under S.C. Code § 43-7-60, with criminal penalties and AG civil action for treble damages, but there is no private relator. S.915 (2025–26) would rewrite §§ 43-7-60/-70/-90 with tiered penalties, consent agreements, and AG subpoenas, still with no qui tam or reward. It passed the Senate 45-0 on 4/15/2026 and is in House Judiciary. The MFCU has been renamed VAMPF.
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 15 in the database.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report Medicaid fraud in South Carolina?
Report provider fraud to the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit (VAMPF; the state's MFCU) (South Carolina Attorney General's Office), 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 South Carolina pay whistleblowers?
South Carolina has: State employee reward for reporting wrongdoing (Whistleblower Act) (A state employee whose report of waste or wrongdoing saves public money gets 25% of the estimated net savings in the first year after the fix, capped at $2,000. The Director of the Department of Administration sets the amount. Only state employees qualify, and an employee gets one reward, either under this section or the State Employee Suggestion Program.). Federal programs (WHIP and the federal False Claims Act) apply as well.
How many fraud cases has the DOJ announced in South Carolina?
15 announcements since January 20, 2025 in our database, counting each press release separately (a case can appear at charge, plea and sentencing). 5 of them announced a sentence.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice: Whistleblower Rewards Program
- oig.hhs.gov/fraud/state-false-claims-act-reviews
- scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/915.htm
- scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/970.htm
- scstatehouse.gov/sess125_2023-2024/bills/86.htm
- scstatehouse.gov/code/t43c007.php
- scstatehouse.gov/code/t08c027.php
- scag.gov/inside-the-office/criminal-division/special-prosecution/vulnerable-adults-and-medicaid-provider-fraud-vampf
- dss.sc.gov/assistance-programs/program-integrityfraud
- dew.sc.gov/individuals/unemployment-insurance-fraud
- U.S. Department of Justice press releases (justice.gov/news)