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By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 05:34 p.m. EST, Feb 10, 2009
Akron police are trying to track down the origin of a fake Amber Alert text message that tells cell-phone users that a 7-year-old child has been abducted.
''This indeed is a hoax,'' Akron Police Capt. Dan Zampelli said. ''We've not put [an alert] out and we do not have a missing child from Akron.''
Area residents apparently began receiving the text message today, Zampelli said.
He said the message says ''Amber Alert City of Akron'' and reports that a 7-year-old was ''taken by a man in a silver truck.'' The message includes a license plate number.
Amber Alert systems are used throughout the country to broadcast information about missing children. The systems are named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who in 1996 was kidnapped and murdered in Texas.
Zampelli said police have received calls from residents inquiring whether an Amber Alert had been issued. Zampelli said he first heard about the text message from his daughter, a student at the University of Akron.
Akron police detectives are working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, to determine the origin of the hoax, Zampelli said.
Akron police are trying to track down the origin of a fake Amber Alert text message that tells cell-phone users that a 7-year-old child has been abducted.
''This indeed is a hoax,'' Akron Police Capt. Dan Zampelli said. ''We've not put [an alert] out and we do not have a missing child from Akron.''
Area residents apparently began receiving the text message today, Zampelli said.
He said the message says ''Amber Alert City of Akron'' and reports that a 7-year-old was ''taken by a man in a silver truck.'' The message includes a license plate number.
Amber Alert systems are used throughout the country to broadcast information about missing children. The systems are named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who in 1996 was kidnapped and murdered in Texas.
Zampelli said police have received calls from residents inquiring whether an Amber Alert had been issued. Zampelli said he first heard about the text message from his daughter, a student at the University of Akron.
Akron police detectives are working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice, to determine the origin of the hoax, Zampelli said.
Comments
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Akron, Oh
Posted 08:30 PM, 02/10/2009
HMMMM...now are they going to start wasting time on fake amber alerts on the internet? How about those Ghana emails.
akron, oh
Posted 08:34 PM, 02/10/2009
mr king growup.... find something to do other than complain.
nyc, ny
Posted 08:34 PM, 02/10/2009
Im 42 Years Old... Moved away from Akron Ohio 21 Years ago. Seen the writing on the WALL with OHIO........... Never Ever Looked back either. Ive still got many friends that were and some that are Still Police Officers. 1 Being Officer Paige Did we forget about this Officer? He was shot several years Because he was helping serve an Eviction Notice...No he didnt die on the Job but I will tell you that he was not able to go back to work again. Let me also say this wasnt his forst run in with Death as an Officer........ Akron will never be known for anything but Crooks and a Ghost Town for Fugitives..
I say to the Akron Police Officer today that shot the guy WTG shoot first ask questions later!
Posted 09:42 PM, 02/10/2009
People dressing and acting like police and now fake amber alearts. Who do we listen to? No safety anywhere in Akron area. When will it all end?
rootstown, oh
Posted 10:28 PM, 02/10/2009
i guess it's better than a real child abduction.
akron, oh
Posted 11:39 PM, 02/10/2009
THERES ALWAYS SOMETHING STIRRING THE AIR....AKRON ALREADY HAS THERE HANDS FULL, AND DON'T HAVE TIME FOR BULLY STUFF.... IT HAS ENOUGH PANIC ISSUES.
Posted 12:04 AM, 02/11/2009
Lester your always attacking someone hahaha
Probably a fake picture, some little guy, trying to feel big somewhere...
But David this will NEVER end thats for sure. Only gonna get worse all around the world sir.
It's probably just some bored idiot who started it.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:08 PM, 02/11/2009
porter, way to never ever look back... looks like youre knee deep in ohio.com
