On December 22, 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission awarded more than $1.6 million to a whistleblower who voluntarily provided original information to the SEC. According to the SEC’s Order, the whistleblower, despite fears as to his or her own personal safety, provided critical information during meetings with SEC staff, which “solidified their suspicions about certain” individuals’ fraudulent actions. This information led to a successful SEC enforcement action.
To date, the SEC has awarded approximately $736 million to 128 individuals since the program’s inception in 2012.