--- title: "The FBI Is International" canonical: https://romancescamsnow.com/the-fbi-is-international/ type: post author: "SCARS Institute Editorial Team" published: 2023-08-24 modified: 2023-08-27 categories: ["♦ LAW ENFORCEMENT - JUSTICE - INVESTIGATION", "2023", "AFRICAN SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "ASIAN SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "EUROPE SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "Guides", "How To Report Scams & Scammers", "LATIN AMERICA SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "MIDDLE EAST SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "NORTH AMERICA SCAMS & SCAMMERS", "PACIFIC SCAMS & SCAMMERS"] summary: "" organization: "SCARS Institute - Encyclopedia of Scans - World's #1 Anti-Scam Website - Romance Scams NOW" organization_url: https://romancescamsnow.com/ llms: https://romancescamsnow.com/llms.txt --- # The FBI Is International # The FBI Is International ## The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is in more than 180 Countries Around the World! ### Law Enforcement - A SCARS Guide ## International FBI Offices - Because Transnational Organized Crime Has A Global Reach. And So Does The FBI For more than eight decades, the FBI has stationed special agents and other personnel overseas. We help protect Americans back home by building relationships with principal law enforcement, intelligence, and security services around the globe. Now, at a time when virtually all major FBI investigations have a significant international nexus, these partnerships have never been more crucial. ## FBI International Operations History The FBI's international operations began in 1940 when the Bureau established its first legal attaché office in Mexico City to counter the NAZI threat. The legal attaché program is a network of FBI offices located in U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. Legal attachés are special agents who work with foreign law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute crimes that have an international nexus. In the early years, the FBI's international operations focused on investigating espionage and sabotage during World War II. After the war, the Bureau's focus shifted to combating organized crime and drug trafficking. In the 1990s, the FBI's international operations expanded to address new threats, such as terrorism and cybercrime. Today, the FBI has legal attaché offices in more than 180 countries. The Bureau's international operations are a vital part of its mission to protect the United States from crime and terrorism. Here are some of the key milestones in the history of the FBI's international operations: - 1940: The FBI establishes its first legal attaché office in Mexico City. - 1942: Special agents are assigned to U.S. embassies in London, Ottawa, and Mexico City. - 1947: The FBI establishes a Liaison Section in the Security Division at FBI Headquarters. - 1993: FBI Director Louis Freeh makes it a priority to open a series of new legal attaché offices. - 2001: The FBI's international operations play a key role in the investigation of the September 11 terrorist attacks. - 2015: The FBI establishes a new legal attaché office in Beijing, China. The FBI's international operations are constantly evolving to meet the changing threats facing the United States. The Bureau is committed to working with its international partners to keep Americans safe from crime and terrorism. ## FBI Around The Globe Our legal attaché offices—commonly known as legats—and sub-offices are located in key cities around the globe and provide coverage for more than 180 countries, territories, and islands. About 250 special agents and support personnel are stationed in FBI legats worldwide. ## International Operations Our legal attaché program is managed by the International Operations Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Through the legal attaché program and other efforts, the International Operations Division serves as a bridge to our overseas partners and a conduit for strengthening the global rule of law. It regularly works through elements of the international law enforcement community such as Interpol and Europol and numerous working groups, task forces, and training initiatives. The office coordinates meetings with international leaders and keeps in close contact with other federal agencies, foreign police, and security officers in Washington, D.C., and national and international law enforcement associations. ## Authorities and Jurisdiction A number of U.S. federal laws give the FBI authority to investigate extraterritorial criminal and terrorist activity. The FBI, however, conducts investigations abroad only when invited by the host country. In most cases, our international partners gather evidence and make arrests on behalf of, or in close cooperation with, the Bureau. Each legat is established through mutual agreement with the host country and is located in that nation’s U.S. embassy or consulate. FBI personnel abroad serve under the authority of the Department of State, chief of mission at U.S. embassies, at the pleasure of ambassadors and host country governments. International liaison and information sharing are conducted in accordance with executive orders, laws, treaties, attorney general guidelines, FBI policies, and interagency agreements. ## The Role of the Legal Attaché Agent The FBI agent who heads an international office is also called a legal attaché or legat. They serve as the FBI Director’s personal representative in the country where they have regional responsibilities. Legal attachés are experienced, highly trained investigators who work directly and openly with their international colleagues. They do not conduct foreign intelligence gathering or counterintelligence investigations. Most legal attachés are supported by a deputy or assistant legal attaché and other staff. ### Typical duties of a legal attaché include: - coordinating requests for FBI or host country assistance overseas - conducting investigations in coordination with the host government - **sharing investigative leads and information** - coordinating FBI training classes for police in their geographic areas - briefing embassy counterparts from other agencies, including law enforcement agencies and ambassadors - managing country clearances - providing situation reports concerning cultural protocol - assessing political and security climates - coordinating victim and humanitarian assistance ## How Legal Attaché Offices Help Protect The U.S. **Relationship Building:** Since FBI agents do not have traditional law enforcement powers overseas, they must rely on strong, mutually beneficial relationships with their foreign counterparts. Legal attachés maintain regular, often face-to-face contact with foreign officials and security agencies that enables the prompt and continuous exchange of information and reciprocal assistance in investigations. Legal attachés also provide critical and timely support in the defense of our homeland through direct coordination with the Department of Justice, the Department of State, Interpol, and other law enforcement and security entities. **Physical Proximity:** Legal attachés are positioned to enable agents to reach virtually anywhere in the world in a few hours, allowing the FBI to respond more quickly and effectively to terrorist attacks, cyber crime, fugitive sightings, crisis situations, natural disasters, and other global security matters. **Training/Rule of Law:** Through international training facilitated by legal attachés, the FBI provides foreign law enforcement officers with skills in both basic and advanced investigative techniques and principles that promote cooperation and aid in the collection of evidence. These efforts help create more capable and democratic police institutions around the world, strengthening the global rule of law. Funded by the Department of State or Department of Defense, significant training programs include the International Law Enforcement Academies in Budapest, Hungary; Bangkok, Thailand; Gaborone, Botswana; and San Salvador, El Salvador, as well as bilateral training programs targeting anti-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and terrorist financing. **Detection and Prevention:** By keeping their fingers on the pulse of criminal activity, national security threats, and emerging trends in the nations and regions they serve, legal attachés function as an early warning system to help keep crime and terrorism from reaching our shores. ## What Does This Mean For Scam Victims? If you want to get the help of the FBI internationally, first - make sure that you have reported the crime to your local police and the FBI - see reporting.AgainstScams.org for how to report. ### Scam and fraud victims can leverage the FBI legats in the U.S. missions around the world to ask for help by following these steps: 1. Find the FBI legat office in the country where the scam or fraud occurred. You can find a list of FBI legats on the FBI website. 2. Contact the FBI legat office and explain the scam or fraud that you have been victim of. 3. Provide the FBI legat office with as much information as possible about the scam or fraud, including the date and time of the scam, the amount of money lost, and any contact information you have for the scammer. 4. The FBI legat office will work with you to investigate the scam or fraud and to gather evidence. 5. If the FBI legat office is able to identify the scammer, they will work with local law enforcement to prosecute the scammer. In some cases, the FBI legat office may be able to transfer information from the victim to local law enforcement directly. However, this is not always possible, and the victim may need to provide the information to local law enforcement themselves. Here are some additional tips for scam and fraud victims who are seeking help from the FBI: - Be patient. The FBI may take some time to investigate the scam or fraud. - Be persistent. Do not give up if you do not hear back from the FBI right away. - Be cooperative. Provide the FBI with as much information as possible about the scam or fraud. - Be aware of your rights. The FBI is not allowed to share your information with anyone without your consent. If you have been a victim of a scam or fraud, it is important to report it to the authorities. By working together, we can help to protect others from becoming victims of these crimes. ## FBI International Offices - Email addresses can only be obtained by calling the specific office during their local business hours. - Make sure that you have reported the information on www.IC3.gov first. Have the IC3 confirmation available. - Have your information fully prepared - see here: [A Scam Victim’s Checklist](https://romancescamsnow.com/dating-scams/a-scam-victims-checklist-interacting-with-the-police/) - Be organized in what you want to ask, such as: *"I am the victim of fraud that originated in COUNTRY-NAME and I would like to ask for your assistance to pass the information to local law enforcement. I have the information prepared and can send it by email, can you give me your email address? Thank you"* - This will vary agent by agent - do not be impatient or expect miracles - this is slightly outside of their regular job. The information below was accurate as of August 15, 2023 ## Africa ### **Abuja, Nigeria** American Embassy: 011-234-9-461-4000 Nations covered: Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria **Lagos, Nigeria Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-234-1-460-3400 --- ### Accra, Ghana American Embassy: 011-233-30-2741-000 Nations covered: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Togo **Niamey, Niger Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-277-20-72-26-61 --- ### Addis Ababa, Ethiopia American Embassy: 011-251-11-130-6000 Nations covered: Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan --- ### Dakar, Senegal American Embassy: 011-221-33-879-4000 Nations covered: Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sao Tome’ and Principe, Sierra Leone --- ### Nairobi, Kenya American Embassy: 011-254-20-363-6000 Nations covered: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda --- ### Pretoria, South Africa American Embassy: 011-27-12-431-4000 Nations covered: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte (French Territory), Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion (French Territory), Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe --- ### Rabat, Morocco American Embassy: 011-212-537-762-265 Nations covered: Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Western Sahara --- ### Tunis, Tunisia American Embassy: 011-216-71-107-000 Nations covered: Algeria, Libya, Tunisia ## Americas ### Bogota, Colombia American Embassy: 011-571-275-2000 Nations covered: Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela --- ### Brasilia, Brazil American Embassy: 011-55-61-3312-7000 011-55-61-3312-7400 (after hours) Nation covered: Brazil --- ### Bridgetown, Barbados American Embassy: 1-246-436-4950 Nations covered: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, French West Indies, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Montserrat, Nassau (Islands of St. Barthelemy and French St. Martin), Netherland Antilles (islands of Bonaire and Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Dutch St. Maarten), St. Christopher, St. Kitts/Nevis (British West Indies), St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos **Nassau, Bahamas Suboffice** American Consulate: 1-242-322-1181 **Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago** American Embassy: 1-868-622-6371 --- ### Buenos Aires, Argentina American Embassy: 011-5411-5777-4300 Nations covered: Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay --- ### Mexico City, Mexico American Embassy: 011-52-55-5080-2000 Nation covered: Mexico **Hermosillo Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-52-662-289-3500 **Guadalajara Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-52-33-3268-2100 **Juarez Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-52-656-227-3000 **Monterrey Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-52-81-8047-3100 **Tijuana Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-52-664-977-2000 --- ### Ottawa, Canada American Embassy: 1-613-238-5335 Nation covered: Canada **Toronto Suboffice** American Consulate: 1-416-640-8650 **Vancouver Suboffice** American Consulate: 1-604-685-4311 --- ### Panama City, Panama American Embassy: 011-507-317-5000 Nations covered: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua --- ### San Salvador, El Salvador American Embassy: 011-503-2501-2999 Nations covered: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras **Guatamala City, Guatamala Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-502-2326-4000 **Tegucigalpa, Honduras Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-504-2236-9320 --- ### Santiago, Chile American Embassy: 011-56-22-330-3000 Nations covered: Bolivia, Chile, Peru --- ### Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic American Embassy: 1-809-221-2171 or 1-809-567-7775 Nations covered: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica ## Asia ### Bangkok, Thailand American Embassy: 011-66-2-205-4000 Nations covered: Laos, Myanmar, Thailand --- ### Beijing, China American Embassy: 011-8610-6532-3831 Nations covered: Mongolia, People’s Republic of China --- ### Canberra, Australia American Embassy: 011-61-2-6214-5600 Nations covered: Australia, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (includes Austral Islands, Bora Bora, Marquesas Islands, Moorea, Society Islands, Tahiti), Kiribati (includes Canton, Caroline, Flint, Gilbert Islands, Malden, Phoenix, Starbuck, Vosttok), Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Niue, Pitcairn Island, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna Islands (French), Samoa **Sydney Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-612-9373-9200 **Wellington, New Zealand, Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-64-4-462-6000 --- ### Dhaka, Bangladesh American Embassy: 011-65-476-9100 Nations covered: Bangladesh, Nepal --- ### Hong Kong, China American Consulate: 011-852-2523-9011 Nations covered: Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan **Taipei, Taiwan Suboffice** American Institute: 011-2-2162-2000 --- ### Jakarta, Indonesia American Embassy 011-62-21-3435-9000 Nations covered: Indonesia, Timor-Leste --- ### Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia American Embassy: 011-603-2168-5000 Nations covered: Brunei, DIego Garcia, Malaysia, Singapore **Singapore Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-65-6476-910 --- ### Manila, Philippines American Embassy: 011-63-2-301-2000 Nation covered: Philippines --- ### New Delhi, India American Embassy: 011-91-1-98-2419-8000 Nations covered: Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka --- ### Phnom Penh, Cambodia American Embassy: 011-85-23-728-000 Nations covered: Cambodia, Vietnam --- ### Seoul, South Korea American Embassy: 011-82-2-397-4114 Nation covered: South Korea --- ### Tokyo, Japan American Embassy: 011-81-3-3224-5000 Nation covered: Japan ## Eastern Europe and Eurasia ### Ankara, Turkey American Embassy: 011-90-312-455-5555 Nation covered: Turkey **Istanbul Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-90-212-335-9000 --- ### Athens, Greece American Embassy: 011-30-210-720-2490 Nations covered: Cyprus, Greece --- ### Belgrade, Serbia American Embassy: 381-11-7064000 Nations covered: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia --- ### Bucharest, Romania American Embassy: 011-40-21-200-3300 Nations covered: Moldova, Romania --- ### Budapest, Hungary American Embassy: 011-36-1-475-4400 Nation covered: Hungary --- ### Kyiv, Ukraine American Embassy: 011-380-44-521-5000 Nations covered: Belarus, Ukraine --- ### Moscow, Russia American Embassy: 011-7-495-728-5000 Nation covered: Russia --- ### Astana, Kazakhstan American Embassy: 011-7-3172-70-2100 Nations covered: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan --- ### Riga, Latvia American Embassy: 011-371-6710-7000 Nations covered: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania **Tallinn, Estonia Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-372-668-8100 --- ### Sofia, Bulgaria American Embassy: 011-3592-937-5100 Nations covered: Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Macedonia --- ### Tbilisi, Georgia American Embassy: 011-995-32-27-7000 Nations covered: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia --- ### Warsaw, Poland American Embassy: 011-4822-628-3041 Nation covered: Poland ## Europe ### Berlin, Germany American Embassy: 011-49-30-238-5174 Nation covered: Germany **Frankfurt Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-49-69-7535-0 --- ### Bern, Switzerland American Embassy: 011-41-31-357-7011 Nations covered: Liechtenstein, Switzerland --- ### Brussels, Belgium American Embassy: 011-32-2-512-5519 Nations covered: Belgium, Luxembourg, U.S. Mission to NATO and the EU --- ### Copenhagen, Denmark American Embassy: 011-45-3341-7100 Nations covered: Denmark, Faroe Island, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden **Stockholm, Sweden Suboffice** America Embassy: 011-46-8-783-5488 --- ### London, England American Embassy: 0-11-44-207-894-0007 Nations covered: United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey) --- ### Madrid, Spain American Embassy: 011-34-91-587-2200 Nations covered: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, Spain --- ### Paris, France American Embassy: 011-33-1-4312-2222 Nations covered: France, Monaco **Lyon Suboffice (INTERPOL)** --- ### Prague, Czech Republic American Embassy: 011-420-2-5702-2000 Nations covered: Czech Republic and Slovakia --- ### Rome, Italy American Embassy: 011-39-06-4674-2710 Nations covered: Italy, Malta, San Marino, Vatican City --- ### The Hague, Netherlands American Embassy: 011-31-70-310-2264 Nations covered: Netherlands, U.S. Mission to Europol --- ### Vienna, Austria American Consulate: 011-43-1-313-39-2155 Nations covered: Austria, Croatia, Slovenia ## Middle East ### Abu Dhabi, UAE American Embassy: 011-971-2-414-2200 Nation covered: United Arab Emirates **Dubai, UAE Suboffice** 011-971-4-309-4000 --- ### Amman, Jordan American Embassy: 011-962-6-590-6000 Nations covered: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria **Beirut, Lebanon Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-961-4-542-600 --- ### Baghdad, Iraq American Embassy: 1-240-553-0590 Nation covered: Iraq **Erbil, Iraq Suboffice** --- ### Cairo, Egypt American Embassy: 011-202-2797-3300 Nation covered: Egypt --- ### Doha, Qatar American Embassy: 011-974-4496-6000 Nations covered: Kuwait, Qatar **Kuwait City, Kuwait Suboffice** American Embassy: 011-965-2259-1001 --- ### Islamabad, Pakistan American Embassy: 011-92-51-208-0000 Nation covered: Pakistan **Karachi, Pakistan Suboffice** American Consulate: 011-92-21-3527-5000 --- ### Kabul, Afghanistan American Embassy: 301-490-1042 Nation covered: Afghanistan --- ### Muscat, Oman American Embassy: 968-2464-3400 Nation covered: Oman --- ### Riyadh, Saudi Arabia American Embassy: 011-966-1-488-3800 Nations covered: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Yemen --- ### Tel Aviv, Israel American Embassy: 011-972-3-519-7575 Nations covered: Israel, Palestinian National Authority **Jerusalem, Israel Suboffice** +972-2-622-7127 ## 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