Securities fraud
A tip to the SEC, with a lawyer in front of it
The SEC runs a whistleblower program for people who give it original information about securities violations. A tip can lead to an award when it helps the agency bring a case, and the law protects you from retaliation. Awards are a percentage set by the program, and nothing is promised.
A tip sent through a lawyer can be anonymous to the agency; you identify yourself only if you claim an award. I write the tip so the agency can act on it, and I deal with the agency afterward.
Original information, not rumor
Anonymous when a lawyer files for you
Retaliation protection can depend on reporting to the SEC, so timing matters
What counts
The kinds of fraud the SEC acts on
If you work with the numbers, you may be the first person to notice.
Misstated results
Revenue counted early, expenses pushed to a later quarter, reserves that move to fit a target.
Insider trading
Someone trading on facts the public does not have, or passing them to a friend.
Misleading investors
Offering documents and pitches that leave out what an investor would need to know.
Broken controls
Accounting controls that are ignored so that a problem never reaches the books.
Did the numbers not add up?
Send me a few lines about what you noticed. Leave the files where they are until we talk.