Anyone can send a referral to the FBI or the Department of Justice. Doing so creates no legal proceeding, triggers no obligation to respond, and produces no public record of agency action.
What a referral packet actually is
A complainant’s allegation, organized for agency intake, usually with exhibits attached. It has the same legal status as a letter, because that is what it is.
Why sites get this wrong constantly
Because "federal referral filed" reads like "federal investigation opened," and the gap between them is where credibility dies. Three referral packets in this record are published in full and labeled prepared. No receipt, reference number, or agency record has been received. If one arrives — including a declination — it will be published with its date. See the three packets.