Deseret News | Fake Amber Alert spreading throughout Utah

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Fake Amber Alert spreading throughout Utah

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phone user | 1:04 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I recived this message twice last night from different friends. I recomend that if you want to be updated about "Amber Alerts" that you register on the states website to recive a text message. This is a serious matter and I don't understand why people have to abuse it.

Anonymous | 1:26 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I just got this text message and I find it horrible that anyone would even joke about something like this. I get mobile alerts from the amber alert system on my phone if everyone signed up for that these hoaxes wouldn't work.

Unfortunately.... | 1:38 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

...the people who send you these things, are too gullible to sit back and re-read what they're sending.

I have three Utah relatives who kept sending me so many hoax emails, I had to change my email address. I tried sending them to snopes.com, I tried explaining to them that things don't work that way and that at least a state would be mentioned. But no. More junk, junk, junk.

Comments continue below

caring person | 1:39 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I received this twice. But before I sent it on I went on-line to Amber Alert and there was nothing on there. I feel bad. I know that people out there have good hearts. It is a shame that someone has to play with peoples feelings.

supporttruth | 1:44 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

90% of the stuff passed around in chain e-mails is false. An easy site to check for accuracy and truthfulness is snopes.com Type in the subject matter under "search." Takes 2 mins.

splitme2 | 2:31 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Any time I get an email that says to 'forward to everyone you know', that is my clue it is a hoax. I also look things up on hoaxbusters.

Debbie - Ohio | 5:35 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Just received this text on my phone in Ohio and Googled to check it out. Amazing how quickly it crossed the country! People are stupid to do this.

Tracy - CA | 6:33 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

While I was driving home from work today someone called a local radio station about it and said it happened in one of our local parks. Then I got a forward about it. I thought it was fishy since it wasn't on any of our local news websites or the CHP website. So I Googled it and found this article.

Char - Alabama | 6:45 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I just received this text saying the girl was taken from here in Alabama with the same tag number. It is hard to know when to forward a text or not. I try to check them first on the internet.

Summer-South Dakota | 6:59 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Just got a text, same plate # and text, just different city.

Anonymous | 8:02 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I got this message for "albany oregon." I text my friend back and asked her to text everyone she text and let them know that was a false amber alert. I get my amber alerts sent to me thru my carrier, so I decided to investigate when she knew before I knew...

Vikki56572 | 8:10 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Just got it here, in MN saying the child was taken from Mahnomen, MN.

Wendy | 8:28 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Someone from Heflin, Alabama sent me the same message on my cell phone. I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. I don't know anyone in Alabama. I guess they are randomly putting numbers in. I didn't forward it though. I checked it out first.

Anonymous | 8:42 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I got the same message from a friend in WA same plate number, age, everything.

April-Oakdale Louisiana | 8:55 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I got the same message and I live in Louisiana. Same plate number and age, but it said the girl was from Lake Charles. I'm with Wendy, I checked it out before forwarding. Upon finding out it was a hoax, I sent a message to everyone letting them know it wasn't true.

shell | 9:00 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

i just got the same one and came here to check it out! i live in missouri at the end of the message it said missouri plates! the same exact message! i dont know why people are doing this

a friend | 9:00 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Just received it here in Maryland. Glad it is not true.

D -Yuma Arizona | 9:02 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

The same message is hitting everyone here in Yuma like crazy. Same age, silver truck, plate etc, except it lists a local park across the street from a junior high as the site of abductiion. Relieved to know it's a fake!

Michelle | 9:20 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

This text is spreading though my town in Montana as well. I wish I had checked it out before forwarding, makes me feel like an idiot for caring.

M- South Dakota | 9:29 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I got that message in Aberdeen, SD. Only the truck was from Nebraska. Until i found out it was fake I was only able to think about that little girl. Had to check on my children to make sure they were still in their beds. Sick people in this world. I agree you should always check on stuff before you forward it. I just feel sorry for the people that are still getting the message and think it is true.

Nina | 9:33 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I just got it in Missouri, but I google it and found this. There aren't any car descriptions, just a lisence plate number.

Steve-O | 9:34 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Just got the text here in Missouri. Glad the internet helped me figure this thing out.

J | 9:47 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I received this text 4 times tonight in Minnesota and the first one stated a town in Wisconsin and the last three stated the same town in Minnesota.

... | 10:14 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

Got it in Reno, NV...

Anonymous | 11:09 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

got it 2 times today in WA

Jennifer | 11:14 p.m. Feb. 9, 2009

I got a bullitne from a friend on myspace here in WA. Looking for info to repost to my friends I found this story.. I posted the story as a comment on her bulliten so her friends know not to repost. How sad someone would make this up.

Anonymous | 1:03 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

i got this text in NORTH DAKOTA!! lol. saying it was from around here..

JC | 6:30 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I Got This Text Last Night Here In Missouri! And Now that I Checked Into It I Feel bad That It Is Even Real! So I forwaded A Text To All My friends And It Displayed this Website To Inform Them All Of All These Fake Alerts Which Is Stupid! Sorry For Watever I Might HAve Caused By Forwarding It Myself.

Sam | 6:59 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I just got it this morning in Maryland.

JS | 7:36 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I am in Pennsylvania and I got the text message last night. I did not think it was a real one so I looked it up today. I cannot believe people would abuse the Amber Alert like that...pretending a child was kidnapped. That person really needs to look at themselves in the mirror and see the ugly they have portrayed over the last 24 hours.

Texas | 7:58 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I got the message last night I'm in Texas

LA | 8:15 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Just received the same message with same tag number for a 7 year old in Maryland

louisiana resident | 8:29 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

received text Tues 2-10...10 minutes later received text of hoax.

anonymous | 9:04 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

received text last night, forwarded it to a couple friends, then one of them texted that it was fake. i can't understand why anyone would do this-it is sad a person has nothing better to do than send phony text messages of missing children.

brooke | 9:42 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

my husbands friends got this sent to his phone they are saying in dayton ohio a 7 year old girl i asked my husband if it was fake he said no that his friend gets news alerts sent to his phone i cant believe someone would do this considering there are real pedifiles out there actually doing this before i found out that this was fake i had already sent it to about 15 people at least 5 of them in different states

Audra | 10:58 a.m. Feb. 10, 2009

It hit Oklahoma too. I got a text message last night saying that a 7 year old girl was abducted in Woodward, Oklahoma by a man driving a sivler newer model truck with the same tag number as mentioned in this story! People are sick to send fake stuff like this! Next time I'll check to make sure it's legit before I forward the text message to my friends. This is sad!

krista | 12:20 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

i got this last night also in california

shannon | 12:45 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

we just got one in Bemidji,mn saying a 7yr old girl was taken by someone in a newer silver truck!ok now theres a real one in Florida people are you CRAZY for messin with such an important system to keep our children safe!

bemidjimom89 | 12:49 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

we are recieveing the amber alerts saying a 7yr old was taken from mahnomen,mn by someone in a newer silver truck...why would anyone mess with the system that keeps our children safe!they should be locked up for this,now theres a real one in florida!cell phone users arent gonna know if its real or not!!!

bemidji | 12:51 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

just got it here too!

Nonny | 1:31 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Isn't technology great? Another way to fake people out and be obnoxious to the extreme. When I was younger, it was Prank Phonecalls. Now we have "prank Amber Alerts"...YIKES. Check 'Snopes', folks. I have a friend, who tells me that, when I send her things. I'm going to listen, to her, from now on. Amber Alerts are scary things...if someone is reading this, and thinks it might be fun...DON'T The child you save, may be your own!

gemma | 1:43 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

that's awful that anyone would do that to such a great service!

sdragon | 3:04 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I'm in central California and received this message from my mom and 4 friends within the last hour...i sent it to 3 others and am just finding out it's fake...a 7yr old taken by a man driving a newer silver truck with same plate as all the others only in San Luis Obispo County...people are so ready to help those in need and this is just a cruel and sickening joke

Anonymous | 4:37 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

I'm located on the coast in southern Oregon, and I received one of these fake reports last night, this one doctored to say it was a little girl taken by the usual silver truck, but that it happened here in Oregon. Apparently, some people are altering the message and sending it on.

Joe Reilly | 5:27 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

The tragedy here is that when folks find out it's a hoax, they throw up their hands and decide to not forward any Amber Alerts because they can't tell what is real. For instance, a 5 year old girl named Haleigh Cummings disappeared from her bed last night in the Hermit's Cove area of Satsuma, Florida. While police are questioning her father, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has an Amber Alert up on their website. I have no doubt this little girl is not getting the attention she deserves as a direct result of this hoax. On Twitter, search for "Amber Alert" and #AmberAlert to see both sides of the mess.

North Dakota | 8:38 p.m. Feb. 10, 2009

Im in North Dakota and this is a little scary since im almost in minnesota im kind of by the border and i just watched it on the news and this is not funny for whoever was bored and just decided to do that.i got that message two times and another one saying a little girl in alabama was also takin?

Rev | 11:28 a.m. Feb. 11, 2009

Just recieved this Today in PA with our county as the abduction. Called the local police to verify it and turned out to be a hoax. Whoever started a fake amber alert if found should be jailed for life.

jill | 1:12 p.m. Feb. 11, 2009

received this in ri at 3 p.m. today

Anonymous | 6:58 p.m. Feb. 11, 2009

I just got this text from my friend and after i sent it i looked it up on here so then i sent another message to everbody i sent it to saying it was fake...

Anonymous | 10:55 a.m. Feb. 17, 2009

NBC News reports_ A 6-yr old girl allegedly abducted Friday has been found safe, North Richland Hills police said. Police said Matthew Dylan Davis, 28, was taken into custody just before 6 p.m. Friday after state troopers located his vehicle on Interstate 20 and FM 4 in Palo.
Police issued Amber alert for Hanna McBride Friday. At the time, police said Hanna's mother had told investigators Davis was a "family friend" who picks her up from school everyday & babysits. Hanna's mother told police Davis threatened to kill both of them in a telephone call about 5pm Thursday. She didn't report what happened until about 10am Friday. But Davis' sister accused the mother of making up the entire story. Andrea Hertz told reporters he is Hanna's father, not a family friend, & she lives with him, not her mother. "It's just revenge," Hertz said. "She wants revenge on anything that has to do with Matt. "Hertz said her brother was taking the girl to visit his girlfriend in Brownwood, which he has done before

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