SEC Whistleblower Program
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recognizes the assistive power that whistleblowers provide to law enforcement in pursuing SEC violations. Federal law creates a process for individuals with inside knowledge to report fraud and SEC violations confidentially and, with the assistance of an attorney, anonymously.
Whistleblowers who come forward voluntarily with original, timely, and credible information leading to a successful SEC sanction exceeding $1 million are eligible for monetary awards. Awards range between 10 and 30 percent of the amount of monetary sanctions.
As an Assistant United States Attorney, Reese Marketos Partner Andrew Wirmani prosecuted numerous securities fraud cases, often working parallel to the SEC. That experience means that Andrew knows how the SEC investigates and builds cases, and how to maximize the utility of a whistleblower’s information in presenting to the SEC.
Examples of SEC violations:
- Ponzi schemes, Pyramid schemes, or High-Yield Investment Programs
- Theft or misappropriation of funds or securities
- Manipulation of a security’s price or volume
- Insider trading
- Fraudulent or unregistered securities offering
- False or misleading statements about a company (including false or misleading SEC reports or financial statements)
- Abusive naked short selling
- Bribery of, or improper payments to, foreign clients
- Fraudulent conduct associated with municipal transactions or public pension plans
- Initial Coin Offerings and Cryptocurrencies
- Other fraudulent conduct involving securities