The Orlando Police Department is warning the public of a scam involving fake Amber Alert kits.
According to OPD, several parents have reportedly been contacted by phone or in person by individuals who claimed to represent the Amber Alert program.
These scammers are allegedly telling parents that their children need to be registered for an “Amber Alert kit” in order for an alert to be issued if their children ever went missing. However, OPD stated in a social media post that this is “not true.”
Parents do not need to sign up their children or purchase anything to be eligible for an Amber Alert.
OPD is warning parents that these scammers have shown up at homes, trying to get inside or claiming that they need more information. Some parents told police that the scammers already knew personal details about their family and children.
“(The scammers) have also been reported to be very persistent—even when their services are refused,” added OPD.
Here is how the Amber Alert system works: Once law enforcement confirms that a child has been abducted and meets certain criteria, an Amber Alert is issued. That alert is then broadcast through radio, TV, highway signs, digital billboards, websites, mobile phones, and more.
There are no kits, fees, or registration required to be eligible for an Amber Alert.
If anyone contacts you claiming that you need an Amber Alert kit, do not provide any information to them. Instead, report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.