National Whistleblower Day is observed annually on July 30, commemorating the passage of the first U.S. whistleblower law, enacted on July 30, 1778.
This year, on July 30, 2025, we will mark the 12th annual celebration of National Whistleblower Day—a time to honor the courage of whistleblowers across the United States and recognize their critical contributions to society and to global anti-corruption efforts.
A whistleblower is an individual who reports fraud, waste, abuse, corruption, or threats to public health and safety to a person or entity in a position to address the wrongdoing. While whistleblowers are often employees within the organization where the misconduct occurs, being an “insider” is not a requirement. What matters is the disclosure of information that would otherwise remain unknown.
The Clerk’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) not only supports the recognition of National Whistleblower Day, but complies with the Florida Whistleblower Act, which protects employees who report violations of law, regulations, or waste of public funds. The Act prohibits retaliation against employees who report these violations to the appropriate authorities.
The OIG provides a confidential hotline for employees, contractors, and members of the public to report concerns, including but not limited to:
- Fraud related to County funds or resources (e.g., contract or grant fraud, donation scams)
- Employee or contractor misconduct
- Conflicts of interest involving employees or contractors
- Falsification of contract documentation
- Waste, abuse, misuse, or theft of County property or equipment
- Mismanagement of County funds
- Violations of County policies and procedures
- Concerns related to Collier County guardianship cases
The OIG can be reached through our confidential, 24/7 Fraud Hotline at 1-844-253-7544 or our local line at (239) 252- 8412. Reports may be submitted online at OIG@collierclerk.com or lighthouse-services.com/collierclerk. Individuals may also submit a report by mail to 3315 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 102, Naples, FL 34112, or in person at Suite 316.
We remain committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all calls, emails, and other correspondence, except where disclosure is necessary to facilitate an investigation or as otherwise required by law.