You can communicate with us on Signal — an end-to-end encrypted messaging app that’s private, secure, and easy to use. No method of communication is completely secure, but using this tool can go a long way towards protecting your anonymity and privacy. Make sure you understand all terms and conditions associated with the app.
Before sending us your message, review how to provide a good tip and make sure you have read our instructions on using Signal.
If you do not have a tip but would like to chat with us, visit our contact page.
What makes a good tip?
A strong tip needs several components. First, it should relate to a clear, understandable, and specific issue that has real-world consequences. Second, it is vital that evidence or documentation is included. Please do not submit speculations or hunches. Lastly, a tip should be about something important. While we agree it is unfair that your neighbor is stealing lemons off your tree, we would not investigate it.
Examples of good tips include:
Here is proof that this company is acting unethically.
I have included documents proving that this company is illegally harming the environment.
National Security Disclaimer
We do not accept any tips or material of any kind related to matters of national security.
Legal Violations Disclaimer
Do not send any information or material that violates or breaches any contracts or legal obligations.
Using Signal
There are a few specific settings you should enable in order to best protect your anonymity when reaching out to TruthWave. Please follow the steps below before sending us a message.
Make sure your profile does not expose personally identifiable information. We do not want your true identity to be exposed through your profile details. We recommend changing your profile name to a pseudonym and removing your profile picture.
Note that your new profile info will appear in all other chats you are engaged with on Signal. For example, if your profile name is Axolotl Fishbin, all of your chats and Signal contacts will see you as Axolotl Fishbin.
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Update Phone Number Privacy Settings
To hide your phone number on Signal, do the following:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Phone Number
- Set Who Can Find Me By Number to Nobody
- Set Who Can See My Number to Nobody
You can read more about Signal’s phone number privacy here.
Since you have hidden your phone number, you must have a username to initiate new chats. Make sure your username is pseudonymous, too. To create a username, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Profile
- Create a new username following the onscreen instructions
You can read more about usernames and phone number privacy here.
In case we decide to have a call with you, you should enable all calls in Signal to go through a Signal server which will hide your IP address from TruthWave. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Advanced
- Toggle Always Relay Calls to On
Once you have completed the steps above, you are ready to send us your message!
Signal Number: +1 650-204-1852
We are constantly reviewing messages, but cannot promise each will receive an individual response.
Additional Methods
If you do not want to use Signal, there are a couple alternative ways to submit a tip. We encourage you to closely follow our directions for your chosen method in order to best protect your privacy and anonymity.
We will respond to tips using the same method in which they were submitted. For example, if you submit a tip to us with Proton Mail, we will only respond to you using Proton Mail.
Proton Mail
Proton Mail is a private email service that uses open source, independently audited end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption to secure your communications.
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SecureDrop
SecureDrop is an encrypted submission system set up by TruthWave that uses the Tor anonymity software to protect your identity, location and the information you send us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't need to be anonymous?
We prefer to communicate with you anonymously, because once your identity is disclosed, anonymity cannot be fully restored. If you choose to disclose your identity or send us information that could lead to your identification, in some cases we may be legally compelled to turn over that information. Please see our
privacy policy for more information.
Are you my attorney?
No. We are not a law firm. In some situations, with your consent we may refer you to a law firm. In other cases, we may work with law firms to investigate and act on the information you provide. We may also work with law firms to pay you while maintaining your anonymity.
What happens after I submit a tip?
We are constantly reviewing incoming information. We will reply to you using the same method you used to contact us. So, if you send us a tip through SecureDrop, you should return to SecureDrop to read our response. Please note that we are not able to respond to all tips.
Can I send classified government information?
At this time, we are unable to accept classified information. We recommend contacting a journalistic organization or law firm of the highest integrity.
What information could compromise my anonymity?
In certain contexts (corporate or government), only a small group of people have access to evidence of wrongdoing. In certain such cases, your identity may be discovered pursuant to a subsequent investigation, especially if there are very few people with access to the information you shared. Furthermore, many organizations have ways of marking information so that it becomes traceable. Before sending us sensitive organizational information, we encourage you to contact us first to discuss whether your anonymity may be compromised based on the method of sharing or in a subsequent investigation.
How much do I get paid?
The amount can range from small amounts to millions of dollars, depending on the information, investigation, and justice ultimately achieved. In some situations, tips will lead to legal cases where victims achieve significant recoveries. In these cases, it is often easier to quantify compensation amounts. For example, we have committed to paying out $200 million of the first billion we receive as the result of litigation.
