BOHEMIA, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ --
Whistleblowers Against Fraud (WAF) is an organization dedicated to
supporting individuals who have information about major fraud
perpetrated against the U.S. government or its citizens. WAF
discusses how the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA)
has been so successful in protecting whistleblowers from
retaliation and encouraging fraud reports.
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The Senate unanimously passed the WPEA, and President
Barack Obama signed the bill into
law without debate. The WPEA protects SEC whistleblower actions,
and the provisions expand protections for all False Claims Act and
qui tam whistleblowers. The goal of the WPEA is to encourage more
citizens to come forward with information about fraudulent activity
and to prevent retaliation from employers.
The WPEA covers illegality, fraud and any type of misconduct. It
clarifies the extent of protected disclosures, increases penalties
for those who violate whistleblower protections, and breaks down
the requirements necessary for confidentiality agreements.
Additionally, the Act required an ombudsman to be assigned to
federal agencies with the responsibility of educating employees
about their rights.
Attorney General Eric Holder has
praised the WPEA, and recent statistics indicate that this Act and
similar legislation are encouraging more fraud reports. In
2014 alone, the Securities and Exchange Commission received more
than 3,000 fraud tips.
Although the statute specifies certain protections for federal
employees, whistleblowers in the private sector still enjoy
protections from employer retaliation. Besides these protections,
the Dodd-Frank Act rewards whistleblowers in the corporate sector
by as much as 30 percent of recovered funds, provided the
investigation uncovers fraud exceeding $1
million.
Whistleblowers Against Fraud (WAF), founded by Joseph
Piacentile, is dedicated to supporting individuals who have
information about major fraud perpetrated against the U.S.
government or its citizens. WAF partners with clients to develop
the strongest case possible, recommend the right attorney for their
case, and guide them through each phase of their case. With more
than 21 years of experience developing whistleblower actions, WAF
has successfully recovered billions of dollars on behalf of the
U.S. federal government and numerous states. Partnering with WAF
can help maximize any whistleblower reward one ultimately
receives.
Media Contact: Angie
Kelly, Whistleblowers Against Fraud, 866-973-37283,
aks@whistleblowersagainstfraud.com
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SOURCE Whistleblowers Against Fraud