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SEC & CFTC Whistleblower Programs 

Like the False Claims Act, the whistleblower programs administered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) provide financial rewards and protections against retaliation for individuals reporting violations of the federal securities laws. SEC and CFTC whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 to 30 percent of any monies collected by the relevant agency so long as that agency recovered more than $1 million.

Unlike the FCA, securities and commodities fraud whistleblowers do not file qui tam lawsuits in federal court—they submit their information by way of a Form TCR (Tip, Complaint, or Referral) filed with the SEC or CFTC. And they may do so anonymously.

Given the diverse array of regulatory violations that the SEC and CFTC police, it is safe to say that the scope of the misconduct that may give rise to a whistleblower tip (and award) is wide-ranging. Examples of securities law violations governed by the SEC include:

  • Fraud in connection with securities and initial public offerings (IPOs) 
  • False or fraudulent disclosures made by publicly traded companies, including disclosures relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and climate-related issues 
  • Insider trading 
  • Bribery of foreign officials
  • Misconduct relating to municipal securities or public pension plans 
  • Market manipulation 
  • Investment advisor or broker-dealer fraud 
  • Fraud relating to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) 
  • Cryptocurrency fraud, including fraudulent initial coin offerings (ICOs) 
  • Ponzi and pyramid schemes 

On the other hand, the CFTC governs commodities and derivative-related frauds that involve traditional commodities (e.g., corn, soybeans, etc.) and also financial products, such as futures, swaps, options, and currency-based instruments.  Examples include: 

  • Fraud schemes 
  • Market manipulation, including attempted market manipulation and disruptive trading practices, such as fictitious and non-competitive transactions, price-fixing, and spoofing 
  • Trade practice violations, including wash sales; fictitious sales; noncompetitive transactions; violation of position limits; noncompetitive exchange of futures for physical transactions opposite each other; illegal, off-exchange precious metals transactions; unauthorized swap transactions; inadequate oversight of traders; undercapitalization; improper controls and supervision; improper handling and/or segregation of customer funds; failing to comply with applicable record-keeping and audit trail rules; and creating after the fact trading records containing fictitious information that were submitted for clearing 

To learn more about filing a tip under the SEC and CFTC Whistleblower Program, please see the following resources offered by our firm:

If you are considering reporting information to the SEC or CFTC, please fill out our online form for a free confidential consultation.

For other whistleblower programs, visit:

Like the False Claims Act, the whistleblower programs administered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) provide financial rewards and protections against retaliation for individuals reporting violations of the federal securities laws. SEC and CFTC whistleblowers are eligible to receive between 10 to 30 percent of any monies collected by the relevant agency so long as that agency recovered more than $1 million.

Unlike the FCA, securities and commodities fraud whistleblowers do not file qui tam lawsuits in federal court—they submit their information by way of a Form TCR (Tip, Complaint, or Referral) filed with the SEC or CFTC. And they may do so anonymously.

Given the diverse array of regulatory violations that the SEC and CFTC police, it is safe to say that the scope of the misconduct that may give rise to a whistleblower tip (and award) is wide-ranging. Examples of securities law violations governed by the SEC include:

  • Fraud in connection with securities and initial public offerings (IPOs) 
  • False or fraudulent disclosures made by publicly traded companies, including disclosures relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and climate-related issues 
  • Insider trading 
  • Bribery of foreign officials
  • Misconduct relating to municipal securities or public pension plans 
  • Market manipulation 
  • Investment advisor or broker-dealer fraud 
  • Fraud relating to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) 
  • Cryptocurrency fraud, including fraudulent initial coin offerings (ICOs) 
  • Ponzi and pyramid schemes 

On the other hand, the CFTC governs commodities and derivative-related frauds that involve traditional commodities (e.g., corn, soybeans, etc.) and also financial products, such as futures, swaps, options, and currency-based instruments.  Examples include: 

  • Fraud schemes 
  • Market manipulation, including attempted market manipulation and disruptive trading practices, such as fictitious and non-competitive transactions, price-fixing, and spoofing 
  • Trade practice violations, including wash sales; fictitious sales; noncompetitive transactions; violation of position limits; noncompetitive exchange of futures for physical transactions opposite each other; illegal, off-exchange precious metals transactions; unauthorized swap transactions; inadequate oversight of traders; undercapitalization; improper controls and supervision; improper handling and/or segregation of customer funds; failing to comply with applicable record-keeping and audit trail rules; and creating after the fact trading records containing fictitious information that were submitted for clearing 

To learn more about filing a tip under the SEC and CFTC Whistleblower Program, please see the following resources offered by our firm:

If you are considering reporting information to the SEC or CFTC, please fill out our online form for a free confidential consultation.

For other whistleblower programs, visit:

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