Whistleblower Protections
Federal law prohibits retaliation against employees who report suspected securities violations to the SEC. The Dodd-Frank Act's anti-retaliation provisions cover not just SEC whistleblowers but also individuals who report internally to compliance departments. These protections are enforceable in federal court, and successful anti-retaliation claimants can recover reinstatement, back pay, and attorneys' fees.
What the SEC Wants to Know
The SEC's Whistleblower Program is particularly interested in information about: accounting fraud, market manipulation, insider trading, FCPA violations, market structure manipulation, reporting failures, and misconduct that harms investors. For financial market participants, information about undisclosed conflicts of interest, trade reporting failures, or best execution misconduct is particularly relevant.
The Anonymous Submission Option
The SEC allows anonymous whistleblower submissions if the whistleblower is represented by an attorney. The attorney submits the tip on behalf of the anonymous client. This protects the whistleblower's identity while preserving eligibility for an award. Anonymous tips receive the same consideration as identified submissions.
The Ethics Reporter's Tip Line
In addition to the SEC's formal channels, The Ethics Reporter accepts confidential tips from industry insiders, former employees, and others with knowledge of potential financial market misconduct. Our tip line is available at theethicsreporter.com/tip. We protect source confidentiality and do not share identifying information without consent.