Just over six months after unveiling its Whistleblower Rewards
Program (the Program) in July 2025, the Department of Justice
(DOJ), Antitrust Division has already demonstrated the value of
this new tool in identifying criminal antitrust violations and
holding companies accountable for collusive conduct.
On January 29, 2026, the Antitrust Division announced the
Program's first-ever reward, a $1 million payment to a
whistleblower who provided information that brought to light a
bid-rigging and fraud scheme at used vehicle auction operator,
EBLOCK Corporation. The payout highlights the new Program's
potential to fuel the Antitrust Division's investigation and
prosecution of antitrust and related criminal offenses across a
broad range of industries, as well as the reporting of offenses by
company insiders and observers. Indeed, Deputy Assistant Attorney
General Omeed A. Assefi touted the Program's inaugural award as
underscoring "the indispensable role whistleblowers
