Whistleblower Program

At PropShopTrader, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and security across all aspects of our operations. Our Whistleblower Program is designed to identify, report, and eliminate any vulnerabilities, fraudulent activities, or unethical practices within our platform, protecting both our traders and our company from harm. We encourage traders, employees, and third parties to report suspicious activity, offering incentives for verified reports. Below are the full details of our whistleblower program.

What Can Be Reported?

The following types of activities are covered by the PropShopTrader Whistleblower Program:

1. Technical Vulnerabilities

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, Remote Code Execution (RCE), Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), Remote File Inclusion (RFI): Vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity of the platform.
Trading Infrastructure Flaws: Vulnerabilities specific to Rithmic, Tickblaze, or any other supported trading platform, data provider, or trading technology used within our business. These flaws could result in unauthorized account access, data breaches, or the manipulation of trading data.
Trade Copier Exploits: Unethical or unauthorized use of trade copiers to replicate trades without permission or in violation of platform guidelines.
Broker or VPS Security Breaches: Hacks or vulnerabilities related to brokers or Virtual Private Servers (VPS) that compromise the safety and accuracy of accounts.

2. Fraudulent Activity in Evaluations and Payouts

Benchmark Manipulation: Any attempt to manipulate or misrepresent trading activity for the purpose of improperly achieving Benchmarks. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of unauthorized tools, prohibited strategies, artificial trading behavior, or coordinated activity designed to create the appearance of qualifying performance.
Signing Bonus Abuse: Any fraudulent effort to obtain or accelerate a Signing Bonus through falsified trading activity, misrepresentation of performance, account sharing, or circumvention of defined trading, risk, or program requirements associated with Gladiator accounts and Real Prop eligibility.
Real Prop Payout Manipulation: Any attempt to improperly influence, falsify, or abuse Real Prop payouts, including manipulation of live trade activity, misrepresentation of results, or coordination with third parties to distort performance or bypass established controls.
Collusion or Coordinated Abuse: Any collaboration between multiple individuals or entities to exploit the Benchmark process, Signing Bonus eligibility, or Real Prop payout structure. This includes coordinated trading, shared control of accounts, pooled strategies, or any activity intended to artificially enhance progression or financial outcomes.

3. Unethical and Illegitimate Trading Practices

Unauthorized Trading for Others: Using trade copiers, bots, or any method to manage or control other traders’ accounts without authorization or in violation of the firm’s policies.
Platform Exploitation: Deliberate manipulation or exploitation of the platform’s technology, systems, or servers for personal gain or to harm others.
Use of Bots or Automation in Prohibited Scenarios: Deploying unauthorized bots, algorithms, or scripts to bypass evaluations or manipulate trades in unpermitted ways.
Hacking Attempts: Any effort to hack, reverse-engineer, or gain unauthorized access to the platform’s infrastructure, servers, market data feeds, or trading accounts.

4. Fraudulent and Unethical Behavior

Collaborative Fraud: Individuals or groups collaborating to exploit loopholes in our system for financial gain or to take advantage of other traders or the platform.
Identity Fraud: Using false identities or documentation to pass evaluations, claim payouts, or access sensitive areas of the platform.
Scam Groups: Organized efforts by individuals or groups to defraud the platform or its traders through deception, misrepresentation, or other unethical practices.
Market Data Manipulation: Any activity that attempts to manipulate the platform’s market data feeds or take advantage of proprietary trading data without authorization.

5. Internal Misconduct

Employee Fraud or Collusion: Any instance of employees, contractors, or consultants engaging in collusion with traders or external parties to exploit the system for personal gain.
Misuse of Company Resources: Using company assets such as technology, trading algorithms, or internal systems for unauthorized purposes.
Violation of Ethical Standards: Any internal or external action that violates the firm’s ethical guidelines, including conflicts of interest, dishonesty, or actions that undermine the integrity of the company.

How to Report

To report any of the above activities, you may submit your whistleblower report through our secure online form. Your submission will be confidential, and your identity will be protected throughout the entire process.

Reporting Guidelines

Provide as much detail as possible, including the nature of the issue, how you discovered it, and any evidence or examples that can support your claim.
Reports that include specific details and evidence are more likely to be considered for rewards.
You may choose to remain anonymous, though it is helpful if we can follow up for more information.

Confidentiality and Protection

We are committed to protecting the identity of whistleblowers. All reports are treated with the strictest confidentiality, and no retaliation will be tolerated against any individual for reporting a genuine concern. Whistleblowers will be protected under applicable laws and will not face adverse consequences for coming forward.

Reward System

Rewards will be given based on the severity of the issue, the quality of the report, and the impact on our platform and users. The reward amount is determined by these factors and can range from cash payments via PayPal to bonuses or other incentives for traders within our system.

Reward Tiers

Critical Issues (e.g., security vulnerabilities that could compromise the platform, significant fraud exploits): Highest rewards.
High-Impact Fraud or Exploitation (e.g., evaluation or payout manipulation): Moderate rewards.
Minor Vulnerabilities or Issues: Lower rewards but still incentivized for contributing to platform security.

Review and Investigation Process

Once a report is submitted:

Initial Review: The report is reviewed by our Whistleblower Response Team to assess its validity and severity.
Investigation: If the report is deemed valid, we will launch a thorough investigation into the matter.
Outcome: After the investigation, if the report leads to a confirmed issue or exploit, the whistleblower will be notified and rewarded accordingly.
Action: PropShopTrader will take immediate corrective actions to resolve the issue, including patching vulnerabilities, issuing warnings, or banning individuals involved in fraudulent activities.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

At PropShopTrader, we uphold the highest ethical standards. We expect both our employees and clients to adhere to these values. By participating in the whistleblower program, you are contributing to the fairness, transparency, and security of our firm.

Compliance with Laws

We comply with all applicable data protection laws, including GDPR, and take privacy and security very seriously.
Reports of illegal activity, fraud, or unethical behavior will be handled in compliance with all relevant legal frameworks to ensure fairness and justice.

Conclusion

The PropShopTrader Whistleblower Program is an integral part of maintaining a safe, secure, and fair trading environment. We rely on the vigilance of our community to help us identify potential threats and misconduct, and we reward those who step forward to protect our system.

If you notice any suspicious activity or believe a security vulnerability exists, report it to us immediately. Together, we can ensure that PropShopTrader remains a platform where integrity and opportunity thrive.

For any questions or concerns regarding this program, feel free to reach out to our support team at support@propshoptrader.com