[epistasis]

The consequences already exist, but are not enough to prevent the fraud. The linked article speaks of criminal charges. And here is a CEO going to prison for similar charges of fraud over nuclear construction:

https://www.powermag.com/former-scana-ceo-will-land-in-priso...

Nuclear projects tend to attract fraudsters that are not intimidated by the possibility of jail time.

[belorn]

I would claim that the whole construction industry tend to attract fraudsters that are not intimidated by the possibility of jail time. It is, if I remember right, the largest source of human trafficking in the world.