A new AMBER Alert scam is targeting children in Florida, Bradenton police say

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is warning of a scam circulating in the state that targets children’s personal information.

Scammers are calling Florida residents claiming to be “with AMBER Alert,” according to a recent FDLE social media post. These scammers are asking for children’s information, and sometimes attempting to schedule an “AMBER kit appointment,” officials say.

“We want everyone to be aware that this is an emerging scam tactic, and to notify us (or their local law enforcement agency) if they receive a call regarding Amber Alerts or ‘Amber Kits,’” said Meredith Censullo, the Bradenton Police Department’s public information officer.

Children are not preregistered for AMBER Alerts, FDLE says. No information regarding a child should be collected “ahead of time,” and AMBER Alerts are “only issued after a child goes missing and law enforcement confirms the criteria are met,” the post says.

If you receive a similar call, FDLE says you should not give any personal information, hang up immediately and contact your local law enforcement agency to report the call.

“If something doesn’t sound right, trust your instincts and verify before sharing information,” FDLE wrote in the social media post.