Who can be a whistleblower according to the qui tam provisions in the False Claims Act?

Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a whistleblower, or "relator," can be any individual who has knowledge of fraud against the federal government, particularly in relation to false claims for payment. This includes current or former employees, contractors, or anyone with inside information about the wrongdoing. The law incentivizes whistleblowers by allowing them to receive a portion of the recovery obtained by the government as a result of their information. However, the whistleblower must provide original information that is not already known to the government to qualify for protection and potential rewards.