The Department of Justice has expanded its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program to cover customs fraud and tariff evasion, aiming to crack down on companies that dodge duties through misreporting country of origin, misclassification of goods, or transshipment schemes.
Launched on August 1, 2024, the DOJ’s pilot initially focused on financial crimes, foreign and domestic corruption, and healthcare fraud against private insurers. Under recent updates announced in May, the program now explicitly rewards whistleblowers who expose misconduct related to customs fraud and tariff evasion, addressing growing concerns about lost federal revenue and unfair trade practices.
Whistleblowers whose tips lead to successful prosecutions and forfeitures can get up to 30% of the first $100 million seized and 5% of amounts between $100 million and $500 million. The DOJ generally favors paying the maximum award on the first $10 million if there are no disqualifying factors.
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