Date: Fri, 6 Mar 92 15:29 GMT
From: Jean-Bernard Condat <
[email protected]>
Subject: File 4--Whistleblowers computer bulletin board extremely successful
Whistleblowers computer bulletin board extremely successful
Whistle-blowers may now anonymously report government fraud, waste,
and abuse via computer to the House Government Operations subcommittee
on Government Information, Justice, and Agriculture. The number for
the computer system, which will accept files and messages, is (202)
225-5527. Aliases are permitted.
The Truelson' PhD published in 1986, draws upon the theoretical
framework of systemic corruption--an organized conspiracy to suppress
revelation of corrupt practices--to propose a retaliation model to
account for organizational retaliation against whistleblowers with
legitimate protests. This study is one basis of this uncredible
bulletin board.
House Government Information Subcommittee's whistleblower computer
BBS has been "tremendously successful" and has generated about "50
substantive leads" in its two months of operation, Subcommittee Chief
Counsel Robert Gellman said. Board has received 700-800 calls, many
from curious browsers who want to see what's available and others who
want to discuss policy
matters.
But Gellman said board was designed solely to allow whistle-blowers to
post private notes to alert Subcommittee to instances of waste, fraud and
abuse, so there isn't much for anyone else to see. There are no files
available to download or bulletin to read, as there are on most bulletin
boards. Gellman said message senders often don't use their real names,
and Subcommittee staff has used electronic mail feature to send message
back asking for more information.
REFERENCES
1. Food Chemical News, December 16, 1991, ISSN 0015-6337;
2. Judith Anne Truelson, "Blowing the Whistle on systemic Corruption,"
University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA), 1986;
3. Communications Daily, February 13, 1992, ISSN 0277-0679.
++++ (A SAMPLE) ++++
ON-LINE SEARCHING
Welcome to
THE FEDERAL WHISTLEBLOWER BBS
This bulletin board exists to help the United States Congress identify
waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. You are invited to
leave messages or upload files that relate to this purpose. There are no
public files or public messages on this board.
Your SYSOP is Congressman Bob Wise from West Virginia.
The CONTENTS of all communications are confidential and not accessible to
other users. However, the name you use to sign on may be visible to
other users. If this is a concern, please use a pseudonym to protect
your identity.
What is your FIRST name (pseudonyms okay)? JONES JOHN
Checking Users...
User not found
Are you 'JONES JOHN' ([Y],N)? Y
What is your STATE (any entry acceptable)? LYON IN FRANCE
Welcome to the FEDERAL WHISTLEBLOWER BULLETIN BOARD.
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.
JONES JOHN from LYON IN FRANCE
C)hange FIRST name (pseudonyms okay)/LAST name (pseudonyms okay)/STATE (any
ent
ry acceptable), D)isconnect, [R]egister? R
Enter PASSWORD you'll use to logon again (dots echo)? ....
Re-Enter password for Verification (dots echo)? ....
Please REMEMBER your password
Welcome to RBBS-PC, Condat. You have 60 mins for this session.
Logging JONES JOHN
RBBS-PC 17.3C Node 1, operating at 1200 BAUD,N,8,1
+--------------------------------------------------+
| Welcome to the FEDERAL WHISTLEBLOWER BBS |
+--------------------------------------------------+
Your SYSOP is Congressman Bob Wise
BBS Phone: (202) 225-5527
REMINDERS:
1) Remember your password. If you forget it, you can't read
your mail and we can't contact you.
2) Use mixed case in messages. ALL UPPER CASE IS HARD TO READ.
3) If you upload a file, please leave a message so we know who
provided it. If you don't, the upload will not be acknowledged.
This is NOT a requirement. Anonymous uploads are acceptable.
4) Callers may be deleted after 30 days. If this happens to you,
just register again. It only takes a second.
Checking messages in MAIN..
Sorry, JONES, No NEW mail for you
RBBS-PC 17.3C Node 1
Caller # 1279 # active msgs: 74 Next msg # 539
------*>>> RBBS-PC MAIN MENU <<<*------
----- MAIL ---------- SYSTEM ---------- UTILITIES ------ ELSEWHERE ---
[R]ead Mail to Me [B]ulletins [H]elp (or ?) [F]iles
[C]omment to SYSOP [I]nitial Welcome [X]pert on/off [G]oodbye
[Q]uit
[U]tilities
*----------------------------------------------------------------
Current time: 09:38 AM Minutes remaining: 58 Security: 5
*----------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN: 58 min left
MAIN command <?,B,C,F,G,H,I,K,Q,R,U,X>? B
* Ctrl-K(^K) / ^X aborts. ^S suspends ^Q resumes *
======[ WHISTLEBLOWER BBS Bulletin Menu ]=======
Bulletin Description
*----- -------------------------------------
1 Description and Purpose of this Board
2 Upload and Download Policies (NO DOWNLOADS!)
3 Operating Policies
4 How to Blow the Whistle
Read what bulletin(s), L)ist, S)ince, N)ews ([ENTER] = none)? 3
* Ctrl-K(^K) / ^X aborts. ^S suspends ^Q resumes *
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.
* Ctrl-K(^K) / ^X aborts. ^S suspends ^Q resumes *
======[ WHISTLEBLOWER BBS Bulletin Menu ]=======
Bulletin Description
*----- -------------------------------------
1 Description and Purpose of this Board
2 Upload and Download Policies (NO DOWNLOADS!)
3 Operating Policies
4 How to Blow the Whistle
Read what bulletin(s), L)ist, S)ince, N)ews ([ENTER] = none)? 4
* Ctrl-K(^K) / ^X aborts. ^S suspends ^Q resumes *
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.
* Ctrl-K(^K) / ^X aborts. ^S suspends ^Q resumes *
======[ WHISTLEBLOWER BBS Bulletin Menu ]=======
Bulletin Description
*----- -------------------------------------
1 Description and Purpose of this Board
2 Upload and Download Policies (NO DOWNLOADS!)
3 Operating Policies
4 How to Blow the Whistle
Read what bulletin(s), L)ist, S)ince, N)ews ([ENTER] = none)?
------*>>> RBBS-PC MAIN MENU <<<*------
*-- MAIL ---------- SYSTEM ---------- UTILITIES ------ ELSEWHERE ---
[R]ead Mail to Me [B]ulletins [H]elp (or ?) [F]iles
[C]omment to SYSOP [I]nitial Welcome [X]pert on/off [G]oodbye
[Q]uit
[U]tilities
*------------------------------------------------------------------
Current time: 09:41 AM Minutes remaining: 55 Security: 5
*------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN: 55 min left
MAIN command <?,B,C,F,G,H,I,K,Q,R,U,X>? C
Type comment 60 lines max (Press [ENTER] to quit)
[----------------------------------------------------------------------]
1: Hallo!
2: I am a French journalist and will be very please to receive a press
3: information on this curious BBS.
4: My e-mail address is MCI Mail #501-3469 or DialMail #24064
5: Don't hesitate to contact me.
6: Jean-Bernard Condat
7: CCCF, B.P. 8005, 69351 Lyon Cedex 08, France (Fax.: +33 1 47877070)
8:
A)bort, C)ontinue adding, D)elete lines, E)dit a line
I)nsert lines, L)ist, M)argin change, R)evise subj, S)ave msg, ?)help
Edit Sub-function <A,C,D,E,I,L,M,R,S,?>? s
Adding new msg # 539.
Receiver will be notified of new mail
------*>>> RBBS-PC MAIN MENU <<<*------
*-- MAIL ---------- SYSTEM ---------- UTILITIES ------ ELSEWHERE ---
[R]ead Mail to Me [B]ulletins [H]elp (or ?) [F]iles
[C]omment to SYSOP [I]nitial Welcome [X]pert on/off [G]oodbye
[Q]uit
[U]tilities
*----------------------------------------------------------------
Current time: 09:43 AM Minutes remaining: 53 Security: 5
*-----------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN: 53 min left
MAIN command <?,B,C,F,G,H,I,K,Q,R,U,X>? g
Log off (Y,[N])? y
Now: 03-06-1992 at 09:43:54
On for 7 mins, 5 secs
60 min left for next call today
JONES, Thanks and please call again!
Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253
