Anonymous whistleblowers can report online

Corruption and fraud can be reported anonymously through an internet system that keeps the whistleblower’s identity secret.

But unlike normal anonymous email tip offs, the new system is like a ‘blind letterbox’, in which the source can safely answer questions from investigators.

The Fraud Notification System has been launched by the EuropeanAnti-Fraud office, OLAF, and even while it was being tested it led to several tip-offs that are since being followed up.

OLAF investigates any suspicious dealings involving the European Union, how its money is being spent in member states and the rest of the world and if any of their employees are suspected of fraud.

OLAF head Nicholas Ilett said the online system should be useful to EU civil servants and others who, despite guarantees they will not be penalised for whistle-blowing, are reluctant to come forward with suspicions.

“It offers informants a simple user-friendly interface and gives people the opportunity to submit information to OLAF anonymously but also to enter into a dialogue with our investigators,” he said.

They have been receiving tip-offs from across Europe via their freephone numbers and email for several years. But under the new system investigators can get back in contact if they need further information, and informants can engage with them.

OLAF has had major successes ranging from discovering research for which the EU was giving a grant had been plagiarised to intercepting Chinese smuggling of garlic to evade the €24,000 worth of tax on a container.