I need to send a 100% anonymous whistleblowing email

[WhistBl]

I’m going to send the email whatever happens but I’m trying to make it as untraceable as possible. I know nothing is 100% but as good as it gets.

Yes I know I could follow process but the process isn’t working and is broken. There are any number of people who could be reporting this so it won’t be traced back to me. I’m 100% not a covid denying loon and it’s not anything to do with that (I’m NHS)

Plan so far is gmail account with no backup email or phone number (which I think you can do?)

Open account and send email through a VPN.

Vague/generic name for the email address

Anything I haven’t thought of?

In the text - a minor but recurring spelling/punctuation error you'd never normally make.

Apparently Kate Burley's disgruntled colleagues used Proton mail to ensure anonymity when they leaked details of her party during lockdown protonmail.com

I think most email accounts require a backup email to be created, including Gmail. So maybe just print an anonymous letter? No certainty that they've received it that way I suppose though. Although if you send multiple copies to multiple people it will make sure they receive them.

If your industry has an independent governing body you can report to then they will usually have online forms to fill in and guarantee anonymity.

10 minute mail
Guerrilla Mail

Temporary email addresses that disappear after you've used them.

Proton Mail is a good suggestion. Use a VPN... take out any phrases or punctuation that would be identifiably be yours. It might be hard to spot those yourself, so if you can get someone else to write the email for you in their words rather than yours, that’d help...

I'd suggest protonmail too. You don't have to enter a backup email address to create one.

The issue is I need to cc’ to a few NHS addresses and I think our spam filters pick up on those email websites. I will look at proton. I know guerilla doesn’t get through

Very short factual sentences and lists, avoid fluffing it up like a proper letter because then your natural writing style will come out and could tip them off. Good luck!

You could

• create a proton mail account
• use a VPN to create a Gmail account and use the proton mail as backup
• use the VPN from another location to write the email

Always use the VPN to check the Gmail email account

If you're NHS you should have a whistleblowing policy, it should say in that who to contact and how to do it.

Any friend you trust enough to send the email on your behalf? Someone who absolutely won't leak your name but they could act as a go between? Just thinking out loud here, not sure if that could work?

Yeah, definitely try to change your writing style and add some phrases you would never normally use.

An alternative solution - why not get someone else to send it? I have an undercover email account and could be your go between

The whistleblowing policy isn’t worth the paper it is written on. I know a colleague reported something arguably more serious and got a very bland placating response back. Our trust are not renowned for responding to staff complaints/concerns, it was mentioned in our CQC report

I intend to write it in a different style to my own.

One other thing. I have a document I would ideally attach. But I’m worried about details in the properties part of the document or it being traceable, I’ve checked and the owner is not included but I’m inclined not to send it because it seems like an added risk. It’s a scanned handwritten timeline.

You know the program that rewrites your report Grammerly, use that.
Oh and the person who got results sent it too many people, via the post office.
That way it didn't get hidden.

Leak to the press?

@WhistBl

The whistleblowing policy isn’t worth the paper it is written on. I know a colleague reported something arguably more serious and got a very bland placating response back. Our trust are not renowned for responding to staff complaints/concerns, it was mentioned in our CQC report

Why do you think an anonymous email would achieve anything then? It's even easier to ignore.

Your concern will be taken much more seriously if you follow policy and report properly. Are you in England, do you have a CCG?

I would type up the handwritten document and print it out so the handwriting wouldn't be recognised.

Report to the CQC anonymously rather than within your trust maybe?

Second the idea of the press..might light a fire under their arses.

Can you not just ask someone who doesn't work for the trust to do it for you?

Basically you want a way to soothe your conscience whilst remaining complicit in the NHS culture of covering up failings, harm, neglect and abuse?

Does your trust have 'freedom to speak up' champions? I think you can report anonymously that way.
It's quite hard having a conscience and not being able to ignore wrongdoing.
Been there, done that.
Be careful.

Who are you blowing the whistle to? You can make a disclosure to certain organisations (eg CQC, Charity Commission) under the protection of the Public Interest Disclosure act. If you suffer harm (eg you are sacked or demoted) then you can sue. I would suggest contacting Protect (whistleblowing charity) for advice. They can help you get your concerns to the right place. Good luck OP - I know it's a horrible position to be in x

Typed letter? Posted to someone random somewhere else..then they post it on for you? Don't put the letter in the envelope before writing their address, put SAE with letter inside it in for them to simply pop in postbox