Angie Kelly, Experienced Whistleblower, Discusses How to Remain Anonymous When Reporting Fraud

NEW YORK, Feb. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the main worries of many potential whistleblowers is anonymity. Many whistleblower cases involve serious fraudulent activity done by companies, and in some cases, an exposed whistleblower and those around them can be in danger of severe retaliation. Below, experienced Fraud Expert Advisors whistleblower advocate, Angie Kelly, is discussing the best ways to remain anonymous when reporting fraud. Keep reading to learn how to maintain your anonymity and protect those around you from retaliation.

First and foremost, any lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act will have your identity as a whistleblower kept secret under the case's "seal", meaning that your identity will remain a secret for those outside of case involvement. However, your identity is not protected once the case is settled or dismissed. You must take your own actions into consideration when protecting your identity during this period; the government will not reveal who the whistleblower is, but you must protect yourself from suspicion.

Note: It is possible to file a fraud tip completely anonymously, but you will be disqualified from receiving a relator reward, and the case will be at a disadvantage without insider knowledge assisting the government throughout the investigation.

Do not keep important case documents and identifying evidence on a company computer. It cannot be stressed enough that company computers are their property, not yours, and you may not know what kind of software is in place to track and monitor employee computer usage. Try to avoid accessing suspicious files too often, instead saving them on either a USB drive or a private computer or email completely separate from company business. If your access is suddenly cut off or files deleted, you will have no back-up evidence for your case. It may even be safest to take photos of suspicious files with your smartphone, instead of having your employer tracking your computer activity.

Do not print or scan suspicious documents. Printer save data in their tracks, so any papers printed or scanned can be tracked to the printer they came from. Keep printed documents printed, and electronic documents electronic, unless you have ascertained the printer data can absolutely not be tracked to you specifically, or you have another method of exposure.

Most of all, do not discuss your case with anybody other than the government, your whistleblower advisor, and your attorney. Keeping your identity anonymous means limiting the people who know you're a whistleblower in the first place. If this means keeping it a secret from close family and friends, then think of it as a small price to pay for their safety and yours. Following all of the tips above, along with this final piece of advice, will keep your identity as a whistleblower as anonymous as possible. This final result definitively relies on the size and power of your employer to track down its employees, but do not worry: even if your identity is exposed, the government has regulations in place to protect you and your loved ones against employer retaliation.

About Fraud Expert Advisors (FEA): Fraud Expert Advisors are not attorneys; they are a community of whistleblowers ready to advise others on what it's like to become a whistleblower and guide those seeking to blow the whistle on fraud through the often-daunting legal process. FEA provides a safe space for whistleblowers to share information and experiences, while addressing any concerns and uncertainties regarding fraud claims. FEA has recovered billions of dollars in the past five years in consulting whistleblowers facing against big and small businesses alike, speaking to their ability to instill the confidence needed to step forward as a whistleblower. Put your trust into an FEA advisor today if you think your employer is engaging in fraud or other illegal activities.

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SOURCE Fraud Expert Advisors