(7) Knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used a false record or statement material to an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government, or knowingly conceals or knowingly and improperly avoids or decreases an obligation to pay or transmit money or property to the Government.
shall be liable to the Government for a civil penalty of not less than $10,957 and not more than $21,916, as adjusted by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015 ( 28 U.S.C. § 2461 ), for each act constituting a violation of this section, plus 3 times the amount of damages which the Government sustains because of the act of that person.