I find it odd that most people are recommending walking away without doing anything.
These are crimes. Would you not report a different crime? Or are you the keep your head in the sand and hope someone else figures it out?
There are actual victims here. Fraudulently changing material amounts? Collusion between companies? Are any of these government buildings? Now you are committing fraud against the government? Not to mention there could be tax implications as well, is everything reported? Inventory correct? That’s tax evasion! As mustachians, shouldn’t we all have the financial backbone to say, “this is wrong!” ?
Still, my advice is to find a lawyer.
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The question of financial cushion has been raised but not answered. That said, OP indicates financial worry on some level. More cushion would be better, but it's too late for that.
Backbone usually has a pejorative implication that if someone doesn't act as you describe, they are scumlike and morally weak. I understand that view. If everyone acted according to it, corruption would shrivel.
But being in a new environment where the organization repeats its behavior means there is probably a tough road ahead. Have you traveled it yourself? Been fired, for reasons just plausible enough that you appeared to be at fault? Been ostracized at work? Suffered tissue damage due to your moral stands?
If not, here is a real life tale from a training session of actual auditors, people whose jobs are to root out the very corruption you describe. The instructor introduced a list of risks that employees (including auditors) risk when reporting corruption. One of the items was "career damage". Because behavior that repeats may secretly be sanctioned by or benefiting management, and results in the ensuing conflict can vary. Another was "tissue damage".
"What is tissue damage?" someone asked. "Physical damage to one's limbs, face or body," replied the instructor.
"Really?" asked someone else.
"Yes," nodded the instructor. "Last year, there was a case (nearby city) where the auditor publicly raised questions of (xyz type of corruption). A few months later, they took a vacation to (place in our state) but never returned."
The class paused. Someone in back asked, "If you're auditing near the border (of US and Mexico) and your client responds to questions by saying 'You know, we're very near the border', should you take that as a threat?"
The person who told me of this incident reports that when they looked over their shoulder to see the person asking the question, behind the questioner was a class participant who had previously worked as a police officer for seven years near the area discussed. Participant's jaw had dropped open in shock, eyes wide in horror. The instructor paused for emphasis, nodded firmly and said, "Yes, you should consider that a threat."
I am told that the former cop's expression drilled home the point more clearly than anything else.
Do you have experiences of standing up to corruption successfully to recount? Perhaps both sides should be told.
PS. OP, marty998 has a good point. You could easily change your icon to something that doesn't lead back to your friend.
