SEC Tips and the Dodd Frank Act l Ask Securities Lawyer 101
Securities Lawyer 101 Blog
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) frequently receives tips from whistlblowers. SEC tips from whistleblowers are provided in a variety of ways. The SEC tips are primarily received through the SEC’s online TCR form located at http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml or through direct contact with employees and staff at the SEC’s offices.
Upon receipt of what’s called a Form TCR, SEC tips are reviewed by the SEC’s staff for reliability, detail and potential violations of the federal securities laws.
After the SEC’s review, information is generally processed according to the SEC’s guidelines below.
SEC Guidelines for Processing Complaints and Tips:
♦ SEC complaints and tips that appear to be serious and substantive are usually forwarded to staff in the home office or to the appropriate regional office for more detailed review;
♦ SEC complaints and tips that relate to an existing investigation are generally forwarded to the staff assigned to the existing matter;
♦ SEC complaints and tips that involve the specific expertise of another division or office within the SEC are typically forwarded to staff in that particular division or office for further analysis;
♦ SEC complaints and tips that fall within the jurisdiction of another federal or state agency are forwarded to the SEC contact at that agency; and
♦ SEC complaints and tips that relate to the private financial affairs of an investor or a discrete investor group are usually forwarded to the Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (“OIEA”).
To qualify for an award under the SEC’s Whistleblower Program under the Dodd-Frank Act, you must submit information regarding possible securities law violations to the SEC in one of the following ways:
Online through the SEC’s Tip, Complaint or Referral Portal; or
By mailing or faxing a Form TCR to:
SEC Office of the Whistleblower
100 F Street NE
Mail Stop 5971
Washington, DC 20549
Fax: (703) 813-9322
Any person wanting to submit a tip to the SEC may do so anonymously by having an attorney represent them in connection with the submission.
For further information about this securities law blog post, please contact Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney at 101 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956, by email at [email protected] or visit www.securitieslawyer101.com. This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute, legal and compliance advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Hamilton & Associates | Securities Lawyers
Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney
101 Plaza Real South, Suite 202 North
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Telephone: (561) 416-8956
Facsimile: (561) 416-2855
www.SecuritiesLawyer101.com
