+--------------------------------------------------+ | Welcome to the FEDERAL WHISTLEBLOWER BBS | +--------------------------------------------------+ Your SYSOP is Congressman Bob Wise BBS Phone: (202) 225-5527 This Board is operated by an investigative subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Your SYSOP is Congressman Bob Wise from West Virginia. GROUND RULES: 1. There are NO public files and NO public messages on this board. If you are looking for downloads, games, etc., you won't find them here. 2. If you have a concern about protecting your identity, please use a pseudonym. Because of software limitations, the name you use to sign on with may become known to others. You may leave your real name in the contents of a message, but this is not required. THE CONTENTS OF MESSAGES CAN ONLY BE READ BY THE SYSOP. Messages cannot be read by any other user. Use the Comment command to leave messages to the Sysop. THE WHISTLEBLOWER BBS SYSOP: Congressman Bob Wise CoSYSOP: Bob Gellman The purpose of the WHISTLEBLOWER BBS is to provide a new and different means for federal employees and others to share information with the Congress about fraud, waste, and abuse in government. The board offers these advantages: -- Whistleblowers are guaranteed anonymity because they are not required to give their real names. -- Whistleblowers can access the bulletin board 24 hours a day. Anyone with access to a computer and a modem can call at any time. -- Copies of documents in electronic form and lengthy explanatory written information can be uploaded. This permits whistleblowers to provide the full text of supporting documents. -- The bulletin board provides a means of two-way, ongoing communication between investigator and whistleblower. Private messages can be passed back and forth using the password-protected electronic message system. Any information provided to the WHISTLEBLOWER BBS will be reviewed by the investigative staff. Promising leads will be pursued or shared with other congressional investigators as appropriate. The WHISTLEBLOWER BBS is not intended as a communications system for personnel problems or constituent complaints. Existing mechanisms are adequate to handle these matters. Individuals who need assistance about problems with federal agencies are encouraged to contact their Representative or Senator directly. The WHISTLEBLOWER BBS may not be used to conduct any activity that violates the laws of the United States. The bulletin board should not be used to provide classified information or any other information that is protected by law. Information of this type may be identified on the bulletin board. If determined to be relevant, documents can be obtained by the Congress using other means. Internal agency documents not expressly protected by statute may be provided to the Congress through the bulletin board. The purpose of the WHISTLEBLOWER BBS is to provide a new and different means for federal employees and others to share information with the Congress about fraud, waste, and abuse in government. There are no public messages or files to download. Files that relate to the purpose of the WHISTLEBLOWER BBS may be uploaded. Examples include lengthy supporting documents; memoranda that identify fraud, waste, or abuse; and other materials of an evidentiary nature. Available transfer protocols are ASCII, CRC XMODEM, XMODEM, and YMODEM. Only pure text file can be uploaded using ASCII. If you are uncertain about transfer protocols, try using XMODEM. Virtually all communications programs support XMODEM. The WHISTLEBLOWER BBS may not be used to conduct any activity that violates the laws of the United States. The bulletin board should not be used to provide classified information or any other information that is protected by law. THE WHISTLEBLOWER BBS: OPERATING POLICIES 1. The highest priority on this bulletin board is protecting the confidentiality of callers. A caller concerned about confidentiality should use a pseudonym. 2. There is no Caller-ID service on the bulletin board's incoming line. Incoming calls are not traced. Each caller must consider the possibility that a call to this board is being recorded or traced at the source of the call. 3. The Whistleblower BBS is operated by an investigative subcommittee in the United States House of Representatives. The purpose of the board is to assist the Congress in identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in federal agencies, programs, contracts, and grants. No action will be taken on any information that does not further this purpose. 4. A higher priority will be assigned to matters that involve large amounts of federal funds or that affect health or safety. Other matters may be pursued to the extent permitted by available resources. 5. We cannot provide any type of general assistance to callers. The board should not be used for any political purpose or to lobby Congress on legislative or policy matters. 6. Messages that relate to the purpose of the board will be acknowledged. A caller who provides an investigative lead is encouraged to call back in the event more information is required. Messages that do not relate to the purpose of the board may not be acknowledged. Most messages will be erased after they are read. 7. General information about investigations that result from activities on the Whistleblower BBS may be made public, although no information specifically identifying an individual caller will be released. Publicity for the board will help to accomplish its purpose. However, a caller will not necessarily be informed about the details of any investigation that results from his or her message. 8. Information obtained on the Whistleblower BBS may be shared with other congressional investigators, agency Inspectors General, and the General Accounting Office (the audit arm of Congress). INFORMATION THAT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES CALLERS WILL NOT BE SHARED. Callers should identify any special confidentiality concerns or expressly state if they need to place any specific restrictions on the use of the information that they provide. Information will not be shared if a caller specifically requests. 9. Casual visitors to the board may be deleted from the user base at any time. If you call a second time and find that you are not recognized, just re-register. It only takes a few seconds. Users not engaged in current discussions may also be deleted as a security precaution. 10. Text files may be uploaded, preferably in ASCII format. Word Perfect format is a second choice. Files may be compressed using standard compression programs. Files other than text files will be immediately deleted. 11. If you attempt to use a common pseudonym (e.g., John Doe), you may find that it is already in use. When you first enter a name not in use, you will receive a message about the board. If you enter a name that is known to the board, you will be asked for a password. If this happens, you must hang up, call again, and use a different name. Anyone reading this has already solved the problem. This paragraph is included as an explanation. THE WHISTLEBLOWER BBS How to Blow the Whistle on Fraud, Waste, and Abuse 1. You do NOT have to give your name or identify yourself in any way. But you should call again after you have left a message. Use the same name you used the first time and see if there is an answer for you. Use the READ MAIL TO ME command. This permits continuing communications so that we can ask you for more information or clarification. Allow a few days for your message to be read. 2. Remember that we are more interested in conduct involving SIGNIFICANT amounts of federal funds or MAJOR instances of wrongdoing. We have limited resources, and we are less likely to investigate minor matters. When in doubt, we encourage you to report the matter and let us decide. 3. Provide enough information so we can find and investigate the objectionable activity. Whenever possible, tell us WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, and HOW. Be as specific as possible. 4. WHO: Identify the agency, office, program, contract, or grant: Vague: ABC Department Okay: ABC Department, Z Bureau Good: ABC Department, Z Bureau, Denver Office Better: ABC Department, Z Bureau, Denver Office, Contract Number 123-456 dated 2/1/89 5. WHAT: Describe the conduct: Vague: Wasted Money Okay: Bought unnecessary computers Good: Bought 200 Personal Computers to use funds at the end of the fiscal year Better: John Smith authorized the purchase of 200 unneeded PCs under contract 123-456 on 9/30/91 to avoid returning excess funds to the Treasury 6. WHERE: State where the activity occurred: Vague: Unnecessary travel Okay: Trips to Los Angeles Good: Trips from Headquarters to Los Angeles Better: John Smith authorized travel for himself from Chicago to Los Angeles every Friday before the UCLA football team played a game at home so he could watch the game 7. WHEN: Provide all relevant dates: Vague: Last year Okay: 1990 Good: Starting in May 1990 Better: Began on May 5, 1990, continued every other week until December 14, 1991 8. WHY and HOW: Explain the conduct involved: Vague: Broke the law Okay: Did not follow procurement rules Good: Failed to obtain sole-source contracting authority Better: Procured 1000 buses from ABC Corp. under contract number 123-456, on 5/1/90, under a sole source contract that was not approved by the contracting officer.