40 U.S.C. § 123 — Civil remedies for fraud

This section creates civil penalties for fraud connected to federal property deals. (a) In General. If someone uses or agrees to use a fraudulent trick, scheme, or device — in connection with the government procuring, transferring, or disposing of property under this subtitle — to obtain or help obtain money, property, or another benefit from the government, that person must either: (1) pay the government $2,000 per fraudulent act, plus double the government's damages, plus the cost of the lawsuit; or (2), if the government chooses, pay double the value of whatever the government agreed to give or receive as liquidated damages; or (3), if the government chooses instead, return the money or property fraudulently obtained, with the government keeping what it already received as liquidated damages. (b) Additional Remedies and Criminal Penalties. These civil remedies apply on top of, not instead of, any other civil remedies or criminal penalties available under other law. (c) Immunity of Government Officials. A government officer or employee is not personally liable (except for their own fraud) for a purchase price that a federal agency later determines is uncollectible, as long as the property was transferred or disposed of following this subtitle and its regulations. (d) Jurisdiction and Venue. Paragraph (1) defines "district court" to include U.S. district courts and district courts of U.S. territories or possessions. Paragraph (2) gives a district court jurisdiction over a case under this section, with proper venue there, if at least one defendant lives in or can be found in that court's district — regardless of where the fraudulent acts happened. Paragraph (3) lets the court bring in a defendant who can't be found in that district, through personal service, publication, or another method the court directs.