The FBI is starting a campaign to educate the public on the consequences of posting hoax threats to schools and other public places.
The Bureau said “hoax threats are not a joke.”
“In the aftermath of tragic shootings such as the ones at Santa Fe High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the FBI and law enforcement around the country often see an increase in threats made to schools and other public forums,” FBI officials wrote in a news release sent from the Bureau’s Norfolk field office.
Officials said the FBI and local law enforcement follow up on every tip they receive. Agents and officers “analyze and investigate all threats to determine their credibility.”
For threats deemed credible, federal state, and local law enforcement “employ a full range of tools to mitigate those threats.”
Hoaxes drain law enforcement resources and cost taxpayers a lot of money, the FBI said.
When an investigation concludes there was a hoax threat made to a school, or another public place, a federal charge could be considered, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
If there’s not enough for a federal charge, then a state charge may be looming.
The Bureau and local law enforcement are asking the public to continue to contact them to report any potential threat or suspicious activity.
If the need is immediate, the public is urged to call 911 or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or over the phone, 800-CALL-FBI.
The public also can call their nearest FBI field office.
