# FBI API

> FBI returns wanted, missing-person, and seeking-information notices as a workflow and API.

FBI returns wanted, missing-person, and seeking-information notices through List most wanted. FBI’s List most wanted filters by name, page, category, maximum results, or field office; older category results may require scanning multiple pages.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/fbi
- Handle: `@fbi`
- Category: [Government](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)
- Source website: https://fbi.gov
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with FBI.

## Methods

### List most wanted

Operation `list_most_wanted`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

List FBI wanted, missing-person and seeking-information notices, newest first. Filter by category, field office, or name; older category results may require scanning multiple listing pages.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `name` | string | no | `"Khalid"` | Words in a person or notice title, for example Khalid. |
| `page` | integer | no | `2` | Page of results, for example 2. |
| `category` | string | no | `"all"` | Notice category, for example ten_most_wanted. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `3` | Maximum notices to return, for example 20. |
| `field_office` | string | no | `"Chicago"` | FBI field office city, for example Chicago. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "name": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Words in a person or notice title, for example Khalid.",
      "examples": [
        "Khalid"
      ]
    },
    "page": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 1,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Page of results, for example 2.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        2
      ]
    },
    "category": {
      "enum": [
        "all",
        "ten_most_wanted",
        "terrorism",
        "kidnappings_and_missing_persons",
        "violent_crimes",
        "white_collar_crimes",
        "cyber_crimes",
        "counterintelligence",
        "seeking_information"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "all",
      "description": "Notice category, for example ten_most_wanted.",
      "examples": [
        "all",
        "ten_most_wanted",
        "seeking_information"
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum notices to return, for example 20.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        3,
        2
      ]
    },
    "field_office": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "FBI field office city, for example Chicago.",
      "examples": [
        "Chicago"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "category": "all",
      "max_results": 3
    },
    {
      "category": "ten_most_wanted",
      "max_results": 3
    },
    {
      "category": "seeking_information",
      "max_results": 2,
      "field_office": "Chicago"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `notices` | array |  |  |
| `notices[].sex` | string or null | `"Female"` | Reported sex |
| `notices[].eyes` | string or null | `"Brown"` | Eye color |
| `notices[].hair` | string or null | `"Black (May be worn in dreadlocks)"` | Hair description |
| `notices[].link` | string or null | `"https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/tamika-cross---chicago-illinois"` | FBI notice page link |
| `notices[].name` | string or null | `"TAMIKA CROSS - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS"` | Name or notice title |
| `notices[].race` | string or null | `"Black"` | Reported race |
| `notices[].height` | string or null | `"5 ft 3 in"` | Reported height |
| `notices[].caution` | string or null | `"Julious George Khalid is wanted for his alleged connection to the kidnapping of a person in Atlanta, Georgia. On August` | Caution text with formatting removed |
| `notices[].category` | string or null | `"ViCAP Missing Persons"` | FBI notice subject labels |
| `notices[].age_range` | string or null | `"21 (at time of disappearance)"` | Reported age range |
| `notices[].description` | string or null | `"January 23, 2025 Chicago, Illinois\nTamika Cross was last seen by her family on January 23, 2025, in the area of the 16` | Notice description and details with formatting removed |
| `notices[].reward_text` | string or null | `"The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Julious George Kh` | FBI reward wording |
| `notices[].fbi_notice_id` | string or null | `"e1a7c6ebec5c4a3685554779122af36f"` | FBI notice identifier |
| `notices[].field_offices` | array |  | FBI field office cities |
| `notices[].place_of_birth` | string or null | `"Indianapolis, Indiana"` | Place of birth |
| `notices[].main_image_link` | string or null | `"https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/tamika-cross---chicago-illinois/@@images/image"` | Main photograph link |
| `notices[].publication_date` | string or null | `"2026-09-24"` | Date the notice was published, YYYY-MM-DD |
| `notices[].dates_of_birth_used` | array |  | Dates of birth listed by the FBI |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "category": "all",
  "max_results": 3
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "notices": [
    {
      "sex": "Female",
      "eyes": "Brown",
      "hair": "Black (May be worn in dreadlocks)",
      "link": "https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/tamika-cross---chicago-illinois",
      "name": "TAMIKA CROSS - CHICAGO, ILLINOIS",
      "race": "Black",
      "height": "5 ft 3 in",
      "caution": null,
      "category": "ViCAP Missing Persons",
      "age_range": "21 (at time of disappearance)",
      "description": "January 23, 2025 Chicago, Illinois\nTamika Cross was last seen by her family on January 23, 2025, in the area of the 1600 block of W. 77th St., Chicago, Illinois. She has not been heard from since the …",
      "reward_text": null,
      "fbi_notice_id": "e1a7c6ebec5c4a3685554779122af36f",
      "field_offices": [],
      "place_of_birth": null,
      "main_image_link": "https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/tamika-cross---chicago-illinois/@@images/image",
      "publication_date": "2026-09-24",
      "dates_of_birth_used": []
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@fbi",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "list_most_wanted",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "category": "all",
    "max_results": 3
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@fbi\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"list_most_wanted\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"category\": \"all\",\n    \"max_results\": 3\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@fbi",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "list_most_wanted",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "category": "all",
    "max_results": 3
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@fbi","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Review wanted notices by category or field office
- Find notices matching a person or title
- Compile notice details and publication dates
- Review reported descriptions and identifying details
- Find notice reward wording and links

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with FBI?

No. Fous is not affiliated with FBI. This workflow reads the public fbi.gov website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a FBI account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from fbi.gov when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### How can I find notices by name?

Use List most wanted with a name to find notices matching words in a person’s name or notice title.

### Can I filter notices by category or field office?

Yes. List most wanted accepts a category or field office to filter notices.

### What details does a notice include?

List most wanted returns the notice title, description, category, publication date, identifying details, reward wording, and notice link.

## Related

- [Federal Register API](https://fous.com/workflows/federal-register.md): Search United States federal rules, proposed rules, notices, and presidential documents.
- [SAM.gov API](https://fous.com/workflows/sam-gov.md): U.S. federal contract opportunities and government notices.
- [Grants.gov API](https://fous.com/workflows/grants-gov.md): U.S. federal grant opportunities and application information.
- [USAJOBS API](https://fous.com/workflows/usajobs.md): Federal government job listings and announcements.
- [InciWeb API](https://fous.com/workflows/inciweb.md): InciWeb provides US interagency information on active wildfires and related incidents, with latest dated updates and evacuation or closure notices; past notices may no longer apply.
- [FEMA API](https://fous.com/workflows/fema.md): FEMA provides public U.S. flood maps and disaster information, including approximate address-based flood risk details and federal disaster declarations by state or county.
- [Police.uk API](https://fous.com/workflows/police-uk.md): Police.uk provides street-level crime data for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, using the latest published month by default, plus local policing team details where forces publish them.
- [IRS API](https://fous.com/workflows/irs.md): IRS provides tax information and public organization records, including charity status and current-directory forms, instructions, and publications with revision and posting dates.
- [All Government workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/government)