Many employees enter the blockchain and cryptocurrency with dreams of making a difference. However, poor public understanding of these technologies, the excitement surrounding them, and a lack of regulation have empowered a few bad actors. Some aim to scam consumers from the start, while others fall back on deception in their pursuit of success. Such behaviors harm the industry and ruin lives, and it’s up to honest employees to protect consumers and the industry as a whole. Our dedicated tech and crypto whistleblower lawyers are here to help you.
It can be hard to navigate these situations between peer pressure and the fear of retaliation or liability. That’s where the law firm of Console & Associates, P.C. can help. Call our tech and crypto whistleblower attorneys at 866-778-5500 or fill out our online form for a free consultation to help you report tech and crypto fraud while receiving the compensation you’re due as a whistleblower.
A whistleblower is someone within an organization who comes forward to report illegal conduct to the government. They usually face great pressure from within the organization, which may frame silence as being best for the company itself, their coworkers, consumers, and investors. In reality, though, fraud hurts everyone except for those reaping the benefits from the top. Some types of fraud that a tech whistleblower might report include, but aren’t limited to:
Know your legal options.
While many companies require their employees to sign an NDA, these are not legally binding when it comes to illegal behavior. It’s never illegal for an employee of a company to report fraudulent and illegal behavior, but the government will attempt to shield employees from any fallout at their workplace. Most investigations allow whistleblowers to remain anonymous, and even give them the option of being represented by an attorney to preserve their anonymity.
Those committing fraud often have considerable power over their employees and will try to implicate them in fraud to deter them from becoming whistleblowers. However, the law appreciates the importance of whistleblowers and provides them with broad protections for confidentiality and against liability for their employer’s crimes. The following laws and policies protect and reward whistleblowers:
The False Claims Act makes companies defrauding any government organization illegal, which applies to false reports on the companies’ internal data, tax fraud, and other considerations. One provision of the False Claims Act provides those who expose such fraud with compensation of up to 30% of the damages the government collects. The government will investigate cases on its own, but employees may pursue their own litigation if the government declines to do so.
Likewise, the SEC and IRS have their own programs to uncover fraud while rewarding and protecting whistleblowers. These programs do not allow whistleblowers to pursue their own litigation, but they otherwise have many similarities to the False Claims Act. The laws are quite complex, so consider reaching out to a tech and crypto whistleblower lawyer for guidance.
Console & Associates tech and crypto whistleblower attorneys are dedicated to fighting fraud and empowering whistleblowers. We’ll assess your case and help you find the best way forward, represent you in court if needed, and take every step to protect your anonymity. Call us at 866-778-5500 or fill out our online form to find the legal assistance you need to stop fraud and collect your compensation as a whistleblower.
