Submitting Information to the FinCEN Whistleblower Program
Whistleblowers provide valuable information that may contribute significantly to the U.S. government’s efforts to safeguard the financial system from illicit use, combat money laundering and related crimes including terrorism and proliferation financing, and promote national security.
Individuals may direct inquiries about the whistleblower program to FinCEN. Once a tip has been submitted to FinCEN, the Office of the Whistleblower (OWB) will confirm receipt of the submission and send the submitter a reference number to use when communicating with OWB or investigators about their submission.
Given the scope of FinCEN’s whistleblower program, FinCEN encourages individuals to submit information that relates to any potential violation of the BSA, U.S. trade and economic sanctions or other regulations issued pursuant to IEEPA, TWEA or the Kingpin Act, or a conspiracy to violate those laws and regulations. Whistleblowers that wish to submit a tip anonymously may do so by submitting their information to the FinCEN whistleblower program, including through an attorney.
Submitting information as soon as possible
It is often easier to investigate events that have occurred in the recent past. Submitting information as soon as possible makes it more likely your information may be useful to investigators.
Providing as much detail as you can
The more details you provide, the more helpful your submission could be to investigators. Examples of helpful details include:
- The names and contact information of all individuals and entities involved in the alleged violation, including their address, email, social media, or other contact information;
- A complete description of all relevant facts, including the “who, what, where, when and why”;
- An explanation of how you learned about the alleged violation that is described in your submission;
- A description of any evidence in your possession that supports the allegations made in your submission;
- A description of any additional evidence that supports the allegations in your submission but that is not in your possession, including the specific location of any such evidence; and
- If applicable, the amount of money at issue (e.g., “Financial Institution 1 failed to file SARs for 100 suspicious transactions totaling $10 million” or “U.S. Person 1 executed five payments totaling $5 million on behalf of a blocked individual with knowledge that the individual was sanctioned”).
