FBI Launches E-Mail Alerts on Public Website

Washington, D.C.— To improve public safety and law enforcement partnerships, the FBI recently launched a service that sends out e-mail alerts when new and vital information is posted on its Internet website.

“Through these alerts, the FBI’s breaking news and information comes straight to you—to your PC, laptop, or wireless device,” said John Miller, Assistant Director for Public Affairs. “It’s a fast, effective way of keeping our partners and the public informed about terrorist threats, missing kids, wanted fugitives, emerging scams, major cases, and more. And most importantly, it will help us do a better job of catching criminals and keeping the American people safe.”

Signing up is easy. Just click on the red envelope icons found on the FBI’s main website at http://www.fbi.gov and on the websites of its 56 field offices nationwide. No personal information is required, just an e-mail address where the alerts will be sent. Subscribers select which topics that they want updates on, such as new e-scams and warnings, most wanted terrorists, top ten fugitives, and national and local press releases. The alerts are sent as soon as updates are posted on the FBI website or in daily, weekly, or monthly digests.

Since launching the service in October, the FBI has e-mailed more than 600,000 alerts to nearly 14,000 subscribers.

Through its website, the FBI has also begun providing RSS (Really Simple Syndication) news feeds for press releases, top stories, and other breaking news. Go to http://www.fbi.gov/news/rss.htm for details.

The FBI website, which is visited by 2-3 million people from around the world each month, has been an important public safety and communications tool for more than a decade. On the site, you can report crime, help find fugitives and missing persons, apply for a job, request FBI records, get tips on how to “be crime smart,” and learn how to do business with the Bureau.