Executive Summary
- FDLE warns of scammers posing as AMBER Alert officials to steal personal data.
- Fraudsters are attempting to schedule fake "AMBER kit appointments" at homes.
- Authorities confirm the AMBER Alert system never solicits pre-registration or home visits.
- Residents are urged to hang up and report suspicious calls to local police immediately.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a statewide warning on Wednesday regarding a fraudulent phone scheme in which callers falsely claim to be affiliated with the AMBER Alert system to solicit personal information about children. Authorities report that perpetrators are targeting families by posing as officials and attempting to extract sensitive data or schedule in-home appointments.
According to the FDLE, the scammers identify themselves as being “with AMBER Alert” during the unsolicited calls. In several reported instances, the individuals on the line have requested personal identifying information regarding specific children. In other cases, the callers have attempted to arrange what they term an “AMBER kit appointment” at the family’s residence.
Investigators emphasized that these communications are entirely fraudulent and do not reflect the operational protocols of the actual AMBER Alert system. The FDLE clarified that there is no legitimate state or federal program that pre-registers children, collects personal data in advance of an emergency, or schedules home visits for data collection.
State officials reiterated that AMBER Alerts are strictly emergency notifications issued only after a child has been reported missing to law enforcement and specific statutory criteria regarding the level of danger have been met. The system is not designed to maintain a proactive database of children’s personal details through direct solicitation of parents.
The FDLE advises residents who receive such calls to refuse any requests for information, hang up immediately, and report the incident to their local law enforcement agency. Officials are also urging families to discuss this scam with relatives and neighbors to prevent further victimization.
Public Safety Advisory
This emerging fraud trend highlights a predatory tactic known as social engineering, where scammers exploit public trust in emergency services and parental concern for child safety to bypass skepticism. By invoking the name of a recognized and trusted life-saving system like the AMBER Alert, perpetrators aim to create a sense of urgency or compliance that overrides standard privacy precautions. Law enforcement agencies stress that legitimate government entities do not cold-call citizens to request sensitive personal data or schedule unsolicited home entries. Residents are encouraged to verify the authenticity of any such claims by contacting the agency directly through official channels.
