Major Fraud Act Of 1988

The U.S. Government doesn’t like it when people try to defraud them. We can’t say we blame them; after all, who out there likes being lied to or taken advantage of? Yeah...nobody. Which is why, in 1988, Congress passed the Major Fraud Act, which significantly increased the penalties for defrauding—or attempting to defraud—the government.

Specifically, if the fraud or attempted fraud is valued at $1M or more, the fraudster is subject to between $1,000,000 and $10,000,000 in fines, in addition to facing up to ten years in prison. Oh—and this part probably goes without saying, but any money that the fraudster received as a result of their criminal actions is also seized and returned to the government.

This act ain't messing around.