The FBI sent an internal memo warning ICE agents of women pretending to be “tradwives” in order to publicize their private information, The Guardian reported.
In Feb., the FBI in Chicago sent the memo to law enforcement officials across the country, stating, “as of late Jan. 2026, a small group of women allegedly were creating fictitious online dating profiles with the purpose of attracting and then doxxing law enforcement participating in immigration enforcement.”
Over the last few years, tradwives — or women who supposedly uphold traditional gender roles and conservative values — gained virality online. But despite all the talk of tradwives online, Match recently found in its Singles in America report that while some survey participants saw an uptick in such content, only 21 percent said it influenced their preferences regarding gender roles in relationships. A participant’s age and past experiences were more impactful on this front.
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“These profiles were incorporating imagery of a ‘traditional wife’ aesthetic and listing specific interests in an attempt to appeal to … individuals in law enforcement,” the memo continued, according to The Guardian. “The objective was to lure affiliated law enforcement personnel into an online or in-person interaction under the guise of a date, after which the individuals would be publicly exposed and doxed online. The tactic is intended to generate public embarrassment and deter immigration enforcement activity.”
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No specific dating apps were mentioned. The memo was sent after viral TikToks circulated, saying women should dox ICE agents they came across on dating apps — and the FBI noted that the report was “not finally evaluated intelligence.”
A spokesperson for the FBI told The Guardian that, “The FBI regularly shares information with our law enforcement partners to assist in protecting the communities they serve as well as protecting those who serve and protect communities. The FBI is committed to ensuring that law enforcement officers are safe from threats or violence while performing their duties.”
The document was obtained by the government-transparency nonprofit Property of the People through a public records request. In a statement, its executive director, Ryan Shapiro, told The Guardian, “It’s absurd the FBI issued a thinly-sourced security alert about ICE agents’ online dating troubles.”
“It’s equally ludicrous the FBI is spending taxpayer dollars to protect ICE agents from possible ’embarrassment’ at the hands of a supposed ‘small group of women’ who might name and ridicule them online,” Shapiro continued.