FTC Whistleblower Lawyer

Our Lawyers Help Private-Sector and Federal Employees Report Violations to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of several federal agencies that accepts whistleblower complaints from employees (and former employees) in the public and private sectors. The FTC enforces several laws designed to protect consumers from fraudulent misrepresentations and predatory practices, and it plays a central role in enforcing the federal antitrust laws as well.

If you have questions about serving as an FTC whistleblower, our lawyers can explain everything you need to know. We help whistleblowers report violations by financial institutions, lawbreaking corporations, and Commission personnel, including (but not limited to) violations involving federal contracts, grants, and programs administered by the FTC.

Violations that Whistleblowers Can Report to the FTC

Whistleblowers can report an extremely wide range of statutory and regulatory violations to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Our lawyers help whistleblowers work with the FTC’s Energy and Commerce Committee, Office of Inspector General, and other committees and offices to expose violations including (but not limited to):

Consumer Protection Violations

Consumer protection violations have long been among the FTC’s top enforcement priorities in the private sector. While many other federal agencies accept consumer complaints, the FTC is primarily responsible for holding banks, retailers, and other companies accountable for violating the nation’s consumer protection laws. With that said, the FTC relies heavily on whistleblowers to come forward and reveal illegal actions, including corporate crimes.

Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA)

The FTC accepts whistleblower complaints involving fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) within its walls. Private-sector whistleblowers may also be able to report FWA under FTC contracts, grants, and programs—though this will typically involve coming forward under the False Claims Act instead of filing a whistleblower complaint directly with the FTC.

Unfair Business Practices

Holding big businesses and other powerful companies accountable for engaging in unfair business practices is a top FTC enforcement priority as well. But, here too, the FTC’s ability to pursue successful enforcement actions is heavily dependent upon whistleblowers coming forward. When whistleblowers make the decision to expose wrongdoing to the FTC, they are entitled to strict confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections under the United States Code.

Violations of Federal Antitrust Laws

The FTC works alongside the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which is the nation’s top law enforcement agency, to prosecute violations of federal antitrust laws. While the FTC does not have a whistleblower reward program, whistleblowers who assist the DOJ with successfully pursuing civil and criminal antitrust enforcement actions may be eligible to receive awards paid out of the collected monetary sanctions imposed.

Violations of Other Federal Laws and Regulations

Along with the violations discussed above, FTC whistleblowers can expose many other violations of federal laws and regulations as well. In all cases, when a whistleblower makes a covered disclosure to the FTC, the whistleblower is entitled to confidentiality and protection against retaliation—and both public and private employers can be held liable for compensatory damages if they retaliate illegally.

Serving as an FTC Whistleblower: For Federal Employees

Federal employees are protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). Current and former FTC employees can report unlawful violations within the Commission—including all forms of fraud, waste, and abuse. This includes violations encountered in the normal course of business and violations uncovered through other means.

The WPA provides protections to federal employees who blow the whistle. It entitles federal employees to confidentiality and protection against retaliation—and, when federal agencies infringe these protections, they can (and should) be held accountable. As a result, in the unlikely event that you face retaliation after coming forward, our lawyers can help you seek back pay and/or any other appropriate remedies by filing a complaint with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) or another appropriate federal authority.

Serving as an FTC Whistleblower: For Private-Sector Employees

Current and former employees in the private sector can file whistleblower complaints with the FTC as well. However, in many cases, it will be more advantageous for private-sector whistleblowers to come forward through other means.

The main reason for this is that, as of 2026, the FTC does not have a whistleblower reward program. While whistleblowers who contact the FTC are entitled to confidentiality and anti-retaliation protections, they are not eligible to receive monetary rewards. However, the following federal authorities do award whistleblowers who come forward with original information that leads to successful enforcement proceedings:

• DOJ Antitrust Division
• DOJ Criminal Division
• U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)

In many cases, coming forward under the False Claims Act will be an option as well. Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can expose fraud involving FTC contracts, programs, and grants in federal district court. The statute’s qui tam provisions allow private citizens to file lawsuits on the government’s behalf; and, when a qui tam case leads to a successful resolution, the whistleblower can claim an award ranging from 10% to 30% of the monetary sanctions collected.

How Our Lawyers Help FTC Whistleblowers

Our lawyers represent current and former FTC employees, private-sector employees, and other individuals in all types of federal whistleblower cases. Our services in these cases include:

1. We Protect Whistleblowers’ Identities

Our lawyers will protect your identity throughout the process. This is true regardless of whether you ultimately decide to come forward. If you decide to come forward, our lawyers will work with the FTC and/or any other relevant federal authorities to help ensure that you receive the full protections that are available under federal law.

2. We Help Whistleblowers Make Informed Decisions

When you contact us for a free consultation, you do not have to be committed to coming forward. Our lawyers will help you make informed decisions at all stages of the process. If you decide to come forward, we will help you choose the most effective and most advantageous means of doing so, and then we will assist you with deciding how much additional assistance to provide during the government’s investigation.

3. We Work Directly with the FTC and Other Federal Authorities

If you commit to blowing the whistle, our lawyers will work directly with the FTC and/or any other relevant federal authorities on your behalf. All of our lawyers have extensive experience working with the government on behalf of our whistleblower clients, and several of our lawyers worked inside of the DOJ before entering private practice.

FAQs: FTC Whistleblower Protections and Awards

Speak with an Experienced FTC Whistleblower Lawyer in Confidence Today

If you are interested in speaking with an FTC whistleblower lawyer about your options for coming forward, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. Our lawyers work closely with prospective whistleblowers throughout the United States and worldwide. To schedule a free and confidential consultation at a time that is convenient for you, please call 888-680-1745 or tell us how we can contact you online today.