WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission says it has set aside about $450 million for payments to outside whistleblowers whose information results in successful cases and penalties collected from companies or individuals.
The SEC set up the program in accordance with the financial overhaul law enacted in July. It follows intense public criticism of the agency for the breakdown that allowed Bernard Madoff’s multibillion-dollar fraud to go undetected for 16 years, despite numerous red flags raised by whistleblowers.
A report issued Friday by the SEC shows it has put $451.9 million into a new fund to pay whistleblowers, which must have a minimum $300 million.
