Energy Industry Whistleblower Lawyer
Have you discovered fraud or foreign bribery within the energy sector? Find out if you could be eligible for an SEC reward by consulting with an energy industry whistleblower attorney.
While securities fraud can happen in virtually any industry, it’s become especially pervasive within the energy industry. There are two types of fraudulent activity that are particularly common in the energy sector, and both can be of interest to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
If you’ve encountered either form of misconduct described below—or some other type completely—you could be rewarded for informing the SEC of what you know. By working with an energy industry whistleblower lawyer from Meissner Associates, you can protect your legal rights while claiming your reward.
Energy Industry Fraud: Foreign Bribery
Foreign bribery is sadly common within the energy industry, especially where developing nations are concerned. These countries often possess a wealth of untapped natural resources that oil companies and other energy businesses are eager to take possession of.
Sadly, these countries often have a great deal of corruption within their governments, with officials who are open to bribery. If an energy company pays a bribe with the intention of securing business rights to resources, then it’s a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
As one of the two federal agencies that enforce the FCPA, the SEC will be extremely interested in any information regarding the energy industry and foreign bribery.
Energy Industry Fraud: Misrepresenting Reserves
Oil and gas companies are required to disclose the state of the reserves they possess, as this is information that is material to investors. If the reserves are running low and the company is having a hard time securing new ones, it could scare off investors and lower the price of the company’s stock.
This causes some energy companies to misrepresent the state of their reserves. This type of fraudulent corporate disclosure puts all of the company’s investors at risk. It’s possible that many investors wouldn’t invest in the company if they knew the true state of its energy reserves, which meets the SEC’s test for materiality.
By working with an energy industry whistleblower attorney, you can expose this fraudulent disclosure and become eligible for a whistleblower reward—all while protecting the interests of the energy company’s investors.
It’s important to note that you don’t need to be an energy company insider to become a whistleblower. If you’ve discovered the true state of the company’s oil or gas reserves through independent analysis, you can still benefit from the SEC Whistleblower Program.
Connect with a Whistleblower Lawyer Today
Even if the fraudulent activity you’ve discovered doesn’t fall into one of the two categories above, you could still be eligible for a whistleblower reward by exposing it. As long as either investors are being put at risk or the FCPA is being violated, the SEC will want to know what’s happening.
Work with an energy industry whistleblower lawyer from Meissner Associates and receive the benefits of working with a firm that’s been helping whistleblowers since 2001. Submit your tip for a free, confidential evaluation today by completing the form below or by calling 1-866-764-3100.