FBI's National Threat Operations Center
The way to submit tips to the FBI for potential federal crimes and violations of law
The National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) is the FBI’s point of contact for members of the public to submit tips concerning federal crimes and violations. In cases where tip information provided to NTOC lacks a federal nexus, NTOC supports law enforcement and public safety through information sharing initiatives with state and local law enforcement agencies. The tips more appropriately addressed by state or local law enforcement can be shared through the National Data Exchange, the International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets), and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).
To submit tips, members of the public can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or use the FBI’s tip portal at tips.fbi.gov. In fiscal year 2024, the NTOC received more than 1.6 million e-tips and calls. High-profile incidents or FBI public announcements about cases can drive increases in the number of tips received daily.
Callers sometimes express or report a threat-to-life (TTL), which is any tip that contains information of a threat to human life or any threat of serious bodily injury or significant violent action. Examples of TTLs can include, but are not limited to, mass shooting threats and specific violent threats against law enforcement officers.
When NTOC receives a tip containing a TTL that does not contain a federal nexus, NTOC can route the information to the appropriate fusion center if the field office and fusion center participate in the Dual Route Initiative. The corresponding FBI field office receives a copy of the TTL information. In cases of TTLs with a federal nexus, that report will be forwarded directly to the FBI field office. When FBI field offices and state fusion centers are not participating in the initiative, the information is sent to the jurisdictional FBI field office, where it is forwarded or actioned appropriately. When sharing information about TTLs, a report is drafted, and NTOC personnel call the appropriate fusion center or field office to communicate about the urgency of the circumstances and those involved.
NTOC examiners are trained to evaluate tips for relevance to federal, state, and local law enforcement concerns. Depending on the tip information, NTOC examiners may determine that sharing the tip information with the following entities is appropriate:
FBI field offices
Other federal agencies
State and local law enforcement agencies
Participating state fusion centers
As of February 2024, NTOC provided tips more appropriately handled by state and local law enforcement agencies to all 50 states via Nlets administrative messages. States can choose how to disseminate the tip information by selecting one of the following methods:
Directly to local criminal justice agencies
To a state fusion center for dissemination
To criminal justice agencies with a copy to the fusion center
If a caller expresses distress that is not an emergency, NTOC personnel can ask for the caller’s consent to transfer the call to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. In an immediate crisis, such as if a caller expresses threats or suicidal ideations, NTOC personnel can contact the appropriate PSAP where the caller is located. Local authorities can then act on this information as appropriate; for example, by performing a welfare check on the individual.
The public can find more information about NTOC in:
The video, “Inside the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center” at youtube.com/watch?v=v4TSKlOxE2Q
The webpage, “No Average Call: A Look Inside the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center” at fbi.gov/news/stories/inside-the-national-threat-operations-center-110719
The E-Tip form at tips.fbi.gov
Using the E-Tip form, members of the public can choose to report a tip related to a variety of federal crimes:
Civil rights violations, including human trafficking, hate crime, and color of law offenses
Corruption, including corrupt activities in a prison
Counterintelligence matters, including espionage (including economic espionage) and counterintelligence activities
Counterterrorism matters, including terrorism, radicalization, and weapons of mass destruction
Crimes against children, including child pornography, child abduction, and sexual exploitation of a minor
Cybercrimes, including email spoofing, email system compromise, identity theft, computer intrusion, and ransomware
Federal election crimes, including civil rights violations, campaign finance violations, and ballot or voter fraud
Financial/economic crimes and fraud, including financial institution fraud, investment fraud, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, and money laundering
Fugitives from justice
Violent crimes, including drug trafficking, bank robbery, active shooters, threatening communications, and murder for hire
Other types of federal crimes, including some that NTOC may define additional distinct categories for
On the portal for the E-Tip page, users can find links to reporting sites for the:
Drug Enforcement Administration
Department of Homeland Security
Internet Crime Complaint Center
Department of Justice Antitrust Division
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Source: FBI