Top 10 Craziest FBI Myths

Since the beginning of humanity, people came up with some crazy myths about conspiracies and one of the reasons is that they just want to have fun. We’re not saying that there are not bad guys who are planning some plots, but in the same time there are people who are lying because they want to play with the minds of the others.

There are numerous myths regarding the FBI, some of them are true, some are partly true, some are only lies, however some of them are just fanciful and they made FBI agents to burst out laughing when they heard about them. Well, we don’t know if they are true, but they certainly deserve some attention whether you want to laugh or you would like to expose the FBI.

Here are the Top 10 Craziest FBI Myths:

#10

The FBI Is Looking To Build A “Death Ray” With Nikola Tesla’s Plans

Nikola Tesla is a Croatian inventor, physicist and engineer, and thanks to his genius he put the basis for the AC power. He was born in 1856 and moved from his native country into the U.S. in 1884, maybe because he wanted to properly continue his research. Tesla died in January 1943 in New York, and the Department of Justice Alien Property Custodian Office temporary seized his plans which everybody believed to feature schemes of a particle beam weapon or the so-called “death ray”.

Well, the thing is that the FBI never got into the possession of Tesla’s plans and this myth popped-up only because people mistook the government officials with the FBI agents.

#9

The “X-Files” Of The FBI

This myth is out there because people think that the FBI agents are investigating supernatural phenomenas, aliens, devils or any other creatures. So, to make it clear, the Bureau are not hiding the fact that they are investigating unusual phenomenas like the Operation Majestic 12, UFO’s, Roswell or cattle mutilations. The “X-Files” myth appeared when the FBI was asked to investigate an allegedly top-secret government organization which was assigned by President Truman to gather information and come up with some answers about Roswell.

Eventually, the FBI agents came to the conclusion that there wasn’t such an organization and the documents who showed that were fake. Well, the FBI is investigating some weird phenomenas but certainly there are no “X-Files.”

#8

Elliot Ness, The Prohibition Agent, Was Also An Agent Of The FBI?

No. Just like that! He just wasn’t. He was only the most famous Prohibition Agent, although the applied to become a FBI agent, but he wasn’t accepted. The myth appeared because he worked under Director J. Edgar Hoover and that’s why he was thought to be a part of the FBI, but he never was. Ness was only the leader of the so-called “Untouchables,” but you already knew that.

#7

The FBI Agents’ “G-Men” Nickname Comes From “Machine Gun” Kelly

George “Machine Gun” Kelly is one of the most famous gangsters from the Prohibition era and he is supposed to be “responsible” for the “g-men” nickname of the FBI agents. The myth appeared when the FBI agents surrounded “Machine Gun” Kelly’s hiding place which caused him to get out of there with his arms up and yelling. “Don’t shoot, G-Men, don’t shoot,” he was supposed to have said. Well, the lawmen at the scene never heard those words, but the public was looking for something extraordinary to happen.

#6

The FBI Agents Can Be Prosecutors In Court

Well, this is completely wrong as only city prosecutors can do that and isn’t that obvious? This myth still stands because FBI agents are gathering evidence and they show the facts to local U.S. Attorneys which are responsible for bringing cases to trial. It’s true that agents can be present in court, but only to discuss what they have found.

#5

Racist FBI During Hoover Years

This myth says that the FBI didn’t want to hire minorities when Hoover was the President of the U.S. In fact, this is completely wrong as the FBI hired minority agents since the 1920s. One of the best agents was James Amos and he was African-American, and during his career from 1921 to 1953 he investigated many major cases in New York. Another example is the Striders team which consisted of a father and son who were African-Americans. The Striders investigated cases in Los Angeles from the 1940s to the 1970s.

The examples continue with Hispanic Manuel Sorola which served FBI since 1920s until the 1940s, and another agent is Flaviano Guerrerro who was born in the Philippine and he was an FBI agent during the 1940s. As you can see, there were many minority agents before and during the Hoover years.

#4

The FBI Agents Are Spying On American People

This is very, very far from being true as even if you are part from the FBI you have to respect and follow the laws and the regulations. You just can’t do whatever you want and the agents have to be really careful about the way they are conducting the investigations. The Bureau admits that agents have made mistakes, but you can’t say that the FBI is spying on you because of few minor incidents. You should be aware that the agents are also part of communities and they have families to take care of, when they are not investigating cases.

#3

The FBI Agents Are Not Cooperating With Partner Agencies

One of the reasons that this myth exists is because people think that the FBI wants to take all the credit when a case is solved. Well, this is not true as the Bureau collaborates with agencies from all around the world and the relationships between them are very strong. Again, the FBI admits that there are conflicts between agents but these things happen as they are humans too.

#2

The Bureau Has Files With Every American Citizen

This myth is very similar with the one that the FBI is spying on American people, but this is not true as the Bureau is investigating on serious cases and they are looking for spies and terrorists that could pose a threat to the national security. The FBI doesn’t have a file unless you are related to all of the above or if you provided information in a case. You should know that the FBI is organizing the files by cases and not by individuals.

#1

The FBI Cannot Do Intelligence

Well, this is also wrong as you can investigate and solve cases without using intelligence. Actually, this is indispensable in the quest for exposing threats or spies. Also, you have to use intelligence when you are after a gangster or a mobster, and you should know that the FBI is a law enforcement and a national security organization, and in the same time it’s an intelligence agency.

In conclusion we can only hope that these myths are not true and the FBI will continue to do their job and to improve, especially after 9/11 as the people need to feel that they are safe and somebody is taking care of them without breaking the laws and regulations.

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