SEC Issues Awards Totaling More Than $4 Million to Whistleblowers

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced two awards totaling more than $4 million to whistleblowers who provided information and assistance in two separate covered actions.

In the first order, the SEC issued an award of approximately $2.6 million to one whistleblower. The whistleblower, who reported internally before reporting to the Commission, provided significant new information during an existing investigation that alerted SEC staff to misconduct occurring overseas, which would have been difficult to detect in the absence of the whistleblower’s information.

In the second order, the SEC issued approximately $1.5 million to joint whistleblowers who provided substantial ongoing assistance throughout the course of the investigation that led to the success of the covered action.  The joint whistleblowers had multiple communications with SEC staff and provided information about key witnesses.

"These whistleblowers provided critical information and continued cooperation that helped the agency detect the securities laws violations," said Creola Kelly, Chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower. "These awards highlight the importance of the SEC’s whistleblower program to the agency’s enforcement efforts and to its ability to maximize staff resources."

The SEC has awarded approximately $1.2 billion to 241 individuals since issuing its first award in 2012. All payments are made out of an investor protection fund established by Congress that is financed entirely through monetary sanctions paid to the SEC by securities law violators. No money has been taken or withheld from harmed investors to pay whistleblower awards.  Whistleblowers may be eligible for an award when they voluntarily provide the SEC with original, timely, and credible information that leads to a successful enforcement action.  Whistleblower awards can range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the money collected when the monetary sanctions exceed $1 million.

As set forth in the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC protects the confidentiality of whistleblowers and does not disclose any information that could reveal a whistleblower’s identity.

For more information about the whistleblower program and how to report a tip, visit www.sec.gov/whistleblower.