Just six months after the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced its partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS) to create a new Whistleblower Rewards Program, DOJ announced its first-ever award under the program — an award of $1 million to a whistleblower who brought information leading to the resolution of criminal antitrust and fraud charges.
DOJ’s Enforcement Action Against EBLOCK Corporation
The charges involved EBLOCK Corporation, which offers an online auction platform for used vehicles. EBLOCK has agreed to pay a $3.28 million criminal fine and undertake remedial measures, including implementing an appropriate compliance program and cooperating with the Justice Department’s ongoing criminal investigation. In announcing the award, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division, Omeed A. Assefi acknowledged the important role played by whistleblowers, stating “Whistleblowers serve as the Justice System’s greatest disinfectant against criminal antitrust conspiracies.”
According to the Department of Justice press release, EBLOCK had failed to take immediate action to end a bid-rigging conspiracy and fraud at its recently acquired Company A, an online auction platform for used vehicles. DOJ alleged that from November 2020 to February 2022, individuals at Company A conspired with individuals at Company B to suppress and eliminate competition for used vehicles sold on Company A’s online auction platform, in violation of the Sherman Act. DOJ also alleged that EBLOCK did not take immediate action to end “shill bidding” on Company A’s platform, resulting in the placement of fake bids intended to artificially increase the sales prices for used vehicles, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343.
Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale said that EBlock “used the U.S. mail to send documentation related to the scheme; a scheme that valued illegal profits over protecting unsuspecting car buyers.”
How the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program Works
The new Whistleblower Rewards Program, announced in July 2025, is a partnership between DOJ’s Antitrust Division, the USPS, and the United States Postal Service Inspector General (“USPIS”). The program expands DOJ’s existing authority to reward whistleblowers who come forward with information on antitrust violations involving federal funds, by providing rewards for whistleblowers who report antitrust crimes affecting the private sector.
Under the new program, eligible whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information regarding an eligible criminal violation, and whose information leads to a criminal fine or equivalent recovery of at least $1 million, will be eligible for an award, provided that the violation affects the USPS, its revenue, or property. Whistleblowers may report information anonymously through an attorney. The Antitrust Division determines the amount of the whistleblower award, which can range between 15% and 30% of the recovered criminal fine. Upon the recovery of over $1 million, the Antitrust Division will direct a portion of the recovery to the Postal Service, which pays the reward to the whistleblower.
In announcing the first-ever award, DOJ expressed hopes for the future of the program, noting “This $1 million reward not only recognizes a whistleblower for bravely stepping forward to report crimes to the Antitrust Division, but also underscores the indispensable role whistleblowers will continue to play in the Division’s criminal enforcement program.”
Reporting Antitrust Violations
Individuals interested in reporting information under the new program should consider consulting with an attorney, especially if they intend to report information anonymously. There are also limits on who is eligible to be a whistleblower under the new program, as well as what types of information qualify for awards.
Phillips & Cohen is the most successful whistleblower law firm, with our cases having recovered more than $13 billion for the government. Phillips & Cohen has won 26 awards for clients under Dodd-Frank whistleblower reward programs — more than any other law firm. Contact us for a free, confidential review of your case.