The SEC has released figures for recovery and returns for the Fiscal Year 2023. The press release details the record high $600 million paid to SEC whistleblowers, and the recovery of nearly $5 billion through a total of 784 enforcement actions, the second highest in history. Actions resulted in nearly $1 billion in returns to defrauded investors. Continue reading
Articles Posted in Whistleblower award
SEC Awards Whistleblower $279M Bounty—The Largest In Its History
The SEC announced an award of $279 million to an individual for substantial assistance in an enforcement action. It’s the largest award in the history of the SEC’s Whistleblower program. The previous record for an award was made in October of 2020, when a whistleblower received $114 million. Continue reading
SEC Awards Four Whistleblowers A $3.5M Bounty
The SEC announced another whistleblower bounty that paid nearly $3.5 million to four individuals.
Jointly, three whistleblowers provided information to the SEC that led to the staff opening an investigation. The investigation led to a successful enforcement action by the SEC. Additionally, that information and investigation led to another agency opening its own investigation, culminating in a separate enforcement action. Continue reading
CFTC Whistleblower Award – April 2022
The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) recently awarded a bounty of $10 million to a whistleblower who offered original information voluntarily. The information led to the opening of an investigation and a subsequent successful enforcement action.
According to the order, the individual provided the information properly via a Form TCR that involved information previously unknown to the CFTC, and in violation of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA.) The whistleblower was under no obligation to provide this information, and provided it at the outset of the investigation, when the CFTC was unaware of the ongoing conduct. Continue reading
CFTC Awards $625K To Four Whistleblowers
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has awarded a $625,000 bounty to four whistleblowers who provided information and assistance in an investigation.
A total of nine claimants submitted award applications for this enforcement action. Of that number, only four received awards. Claimants 2, 3, 4, and 6 received bounties from the civil monetary penalties levied against the two defendants involved in the enforcement action. Claimant 4 offered the highest level of assistance and cooperation and received the largest portion of the bounty. All four offered substantial assistance that included providing names and other information which supported the Commission’s action against the defendants. Continue reading
SEC Awards $3 Million To Three Whistleblowers
The SEC has awarded $3M to three different whistleblowers for assisting with three distinct covered actions in three separate orders.
1. In the first order, the Claims Review Staff (CRS) awarded a bounty of $1.5 million to an individual who provided original information and voluntarily gave assistance to SEC staff that led to a successful covered action. Continue reading
SEC Awards $1.25M To Whistleblower
The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has awarded another whistleblower bounty to someone offering information and assistance. This time, the whistleblower received an award of $1.25 million after voluntarily supplying information that resulted in a successful SEC enforcement action. Continue reading
SEC Awards $3.5 Million To Whistleblower
The SEC has again given an award to a whistleblower. This time it totals $3.5 million, and comes after multiple instances of support from the individual.
The whistleblower’s contribution prompted SEC staff to investigate more possible securities violations. This made the investigation easier for the SEC staff, which saved them time and resources. Continue reading
SEC Awards $14M To Whistleblower Posting Report Online
Most whistleblowers are keen to keep their activity concealed and private until the information becomes public. In an unusual twist, one whistleblower decided to publish a research report online detailing the fraudulent activity of a company and that of its CEO prior to notifying the SEC of the fraud.
Within days of sharing this information online, the whistleblower then shared the same information with the SEC. The individual was persistent in reaching out to SEC staff about this information. Their continued contact led to the SEC opening an investigation that resulted in a successful enforcement action. This whistleblower was an outsider, not an employee of the company. Continue reading
Four Whistleblowers Involved In $40M SEC Bounty
Through three orders, the SEC issued awards to four people that totaled over $40 million.
- In the first proceeding, the SEC awarded two individuals a bounty of $37 million that provided crucial evidence leading to the success of the covered action. One individual helped SEC staff understand the evidence provided, and led to additional relevant information. The continuing assistance of both gave staff more information that helped to advance the investigation. Another governmental agency was involved with this action with its own separate “covered action.” Both whistleblowers received 50% of the bounty amount.
- In the second proceeding, the SEC awarded one individual $1.8 million for the new information they provided that saw SEC staff open a new investigation into misconduct. The individual quickly offered an internal report, and continued to provide SEC staff with information, documentation, and other assistance throughout the investigation. Charges in the affiliated covered action were a direct result of this individual’s contributions, which caused them to suffer hardships as a result.
- In the third proceeding, a whistleblower received an SEC bounty of $1.5 million for information and assistance in an existing investigation that led to a successful enforcement action. As with the previous two, this individual gave continued and substantial assistance to SEC staff throughout the investigation. This whistleblower provided new information that saved staff time and resources and helped staff to understand the issues involved.