Cell phone with Unknown and a fake number on screen with warning symbol triangle over the top

The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office of New York is warning communities about a disturbing new scam that exploits the AMBER Alert system. Fraudsters are calling residents, posing as official organizations, and requesting sensitive personal identifying information about children—including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and photographs—claiming the data is required for "AMBER Alert purposes." This fraud poses a critical threat to public trust. Law enforcement must proactively remind communities that they will never randomly call to harvest a child's personal details; such requests only occur during active, verified investigations. Anyone receiving these calls should hang up immediately, refuse to share data, and report the incident to local authorities. Protecting the AMBER Alert program's credibility requires rapid, widespread community awareness.

 

Man with AMBER lanyard holder and clipboard with AMBER Kit form talking to a woman behind a closed screen door

A recurring fraudulent scheme has intensified across Florida, where bad actors impersonate AMBER Alert officials to harvest sensitive data. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), scammers request "AMBER kit appointments" to collect children’s Social Security numbers, fingerprints, and photos. These incidents provide a non-adversarial opening to reinforce program criteria. Strategic messaging should emphasize that the AMBER Alert system is a law enforcement tool, not a consumer product, and never requires pre-registration or home visits. Coordinators in states like California and Nevada have successfully used these scams to drive traffic to official resources, turning public anxiety into sustained community vigilance. By rapidly debunking "kit" myths, agencies protect their brand integrity, ensuring that when a real alert is issued, public trust remains at its peak.

 

Bogus California Highway Patrol AMBER Alert child registration scam illustration

A phone scam in which callers pose as “AMBER Alert representatives” and offer to “register” children has prompted a firm warning to the public from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). “This is NOT how AMBER Alerts work!” CHP posted in a social media alert. Fraudsters contact parents with an offer to “register” their children in a database for use if the child goes missing or is taken. They ask for confidential information and an in-home meeting. CHP warned that it is the only California agency authorized to activate an AMBER Alert and that registration for an alert is never required. The public is urged to alert local law enforcement if a scammer contacts them and to never provide personal information or answer calls from unknown numbers.