Amber Alert hoax resurfaces

Published 10:04 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2009

By Staff
EAST LANSING – Michigan State Police July 16 notified the public that a hoax Amber Alert text message were first reported in February is circulating again.
Several reports of the fake alert message reported last week in Delta County.
The hoax Amber Alert message contains the following information: "A 3-year-old girl was taken by a man driving a newer silver truck. The license plate reads 72b381. Please pass on."
The National Center for Missing and Endangered Children confirmed to the state police there are no current Amber Alert activations containing this information.
"Incomplete and hoax Amber Alert messages forwarded in this manner ultimately result in confusion and can hamper legitimate recovery efforts said Sgt. Greg Jones, coordinator of the Michigan Amber Alert Plan. "To confirm the validity of an Amber Alert message, please contact your local law enforcement agency."
In Michigan, official Amber Alert activations are distributed by the state police to media outlets and law enforcement partners in a specific area or region.
Information is then distributed to the public with a request for their assistance in locating the endangered missing child.
Official Amber Alert activations always include detailed information concerning the missing child, such as a full description, last known location and contact information for the investigating agency.
When the child is recovered, the state police distributes an official cancellation message to the appropriate law enforcement and media outlets.