Million Dollar Payouts Available for Reporting Fraud Against the Government, Reporting Tax Evasion, and Reporting SEC Violations
The average reward for reporting fraud against the government is $1.5 million. Nearly $3 billion in rewards have already been paid. The largest rewards exceed $150 million, and 1 out of 5 applicants have received a reward. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.
The government pays rewards of up to 30% of the funds it recovers. This includes reporting fraud under any of the more than 20 federal programs, such as Medicare or military fraud. It even extends to Bailout fraud and TARP fraud. Many states have similar reward programs. The IRS is now offering whistleblower rewards for reporting tax evasion or income tax fraud. In addition, a whistleblower who reports securities law violations is eligible for a reward for reporting fraud relating to violations of laws relating to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Those who do not strictly follow the procedures, however, receive nothing. Like anything else involving the government, you have to follow the exact procedures—or else you won’t meet the standards and won’t get a dime. Although the government wants to partner with you, there are some technical requirements you must meet and pitfalls to avoid.
Fortunately, there is a recipe, and I am sharing recipes in two new books, based upon my 15 years of government service in the Fraud Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., which is the office administering the main reward program. The first book, named Whistleblowing, addresses the main federal and state government reward programs and applies to fraud against any government agency, program or contract. The only exception to that reward program is income tax evasion, which is the topic of the second book, Reward. It is the first and only guide to the new IRS Reward Program. Joel Hesch and his Reward book are cited as experts in a lead article in Forbes Magazine, "Tax Informants are on the Loose," (2010 Investment Guide). Both of Hesch's books walk you step by step through each program and guide you to submitting a winning reward application.
This website provides additional valuable information and updates to these reward programs, and shows you how you might ask me to confidentially review your potential reward claim to see if me and my team of lawyers can represent you. (See the link "Do I have a case?")
Reporting Other Types of Fraud
Many other types of fraud can greatly affect you, such as identity theft, Internet scams, and stock market fraud. Even though you won’t receive a reward for reporting it, you can still participate in this battle. This website shows you how to report all kinds of fraud, and gives tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim. (See the link on the left "Report Other Fraud").
Other Whistleblower Rights and Protections
This website also contains a listing of the major federal and state whistleblower laws that protect those reporting discrimination or retaliation by employers based on age, race, religion, or sex. It also describe whistleblower protections for reporting pollution, job safety issues, waste by the government, or stock and bond fraud. (See the link on the left Other Whistleblower Rights.)Plan to Bookmark this website as it is the one place for all the information you need for reporting fraud or whistleblowing. It lists every major protection, right or reward program relating to whistleblowers.
Tell a friend, as it may be just what they need to know about all of their whistleblower rights or protections from all types of fraud, including how to report fraud, waste or abuse.