More than 58,000 children are abducted by non-family members each year. That's why SunCom Wireless offers Wireless AMBER AlertsTM -- urgent text messages using wireless technology to help expedite the search for and safe return of missing children. Statistics show that the first three hours after abduction are the most critical to safe recovery of a missing child. When SunCom Wireless customers opt to receive Wireless AMBER AlertsTM free of charge on their wireless devices, they can greatly assist law enforcement in their efforts to quickly locate and return missing children to their loved ones. To receive a free text message alerting you of AMBER Alerts in your area, sign up here. Frequently Asked Questions What are AMBER Alerts? Amber Alerts are important tools for law enforcement officials in searching for missing children nationwide. AMBER stands for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response." The national Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative is a voluntary partnership between the wireless industry, law enforcement agencies, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to distribute bulletins about abducted children to wireless subscribers. Why was the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative Created? President Bush authorized the national AMBER Alert program as part of the PROTECT Act signed on April 30, 2003. The law formally established the federal government's role in the AMBER Alert program, appointing the Department of Justice as the agency responsible for coordinating AMBER Alerts on the national level. Recognizing that wireless technology can help communities assist law enforcement in the search for and return of a child, The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, The Wireless Association, its members, its industry partners and The Wireless Foundation created the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative. How do Wireless AMBER Alerts work? Law enforcement is notified that a child, age 17 or younger, has been abducted and verifies that the abduction meets AMBER Alert criteria. Law enforcement then issues an AMBER Alert and provides the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) with the information to include in the alert. NCMEC formats the AMBER alert message and sends it electronically to Syniverse, a company that develops mission-critical technology services. Next, Syniverse sends the AMBER Alert message to wireless carriers. Finally, participating carriers send the AMBER Alert message, as a text message, to subscribers who have opted to receive the notices. What are the AMBER Alert criteria? The following criteria, recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice, must be met before NCMEC will issue an AMBER Alert: There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred. The abduction is of a child age 17or younger. The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death. There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child. The child's name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). How do I sign up to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts? 1. Wireless subscribers, whose wireless devices are capable of receiving text messages, must visit www.wirelessamberalerts.org to sign up. 2. Submit your wireless phone number, including the area code. 3. Read the terms and conditions of the Wireless AMBER Alerts program; press ACCEPT. 4. Press "Complete Subscription." 5. Enter up to five ZIP codes for the areas in which you live, work and play. 6. Select a password or have the Web site assign you one. 7. Congratulations! You are now a member of the Wireless AMBER Alerts initiative. Is there a charge for Wireless AMBER Alerts? No. The carriers who are participating in the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative have entered into an agreement with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) that requires them to provide these alerts at no additional cost to consumers. I need to report a missing child. What should I do? To report a missing, abducted or lost child, please call your local law enforcement agency or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST. I received a Wireless AMBER Alert and believe I have information that could be helpful. Who do I contact? You should call the number that appears in the text message of the AMBER Alert notice you received to report any helpful information. You do not need to call your wireless carrier or reply to the AMBER Alert message. What locations offer Wireless AMBER Alerts? Wireless AMBER Alerts are available through participating carriers to wireless subscribers in all 50 states. How will "opting in" to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts affect my wireless device? After you've signed up to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts, you will receive a text message welcoming you to the program. All Wireless AMBER Alerts will be received as text messages and will appear on your wireless device in the same manner as any other text message. You will also receive a text message notifying you when the AMBER Alert is cancelled. How often will I receive Wireless AMBER Alerts? We hope that you will receive a minimal amount of AMBER Alerts, but because we cannot predict how many children will be abducted and when or where, we cannot speculate on how many notices you will receive or how often you will receive them. Approximately 200 to 250 AMBER Alerts are activated across the nation each year. Will I only receive Wireless AMBER Alerts that affect the specific ZIP codes I select? Yes. You will only receive an AMBER Alert if a notice is sent pertaining to the specific areas you designated when you opted in to the program. Why can I subscribe to five ZIP codes? The Wireless AMBER Alert program uses ZIP codes as the most convenient method to determine the appropriate Alerts to send to you, in the areas where you spend the most time. By selecting your home ZIP code for example, you will receive only the AMBER Alerts that pertain to your community. It's similar to when you use a Web site to get a weather report for your area. In many cases, AMBER Alerts are issued state-wide. However, in other cases, AMBER Alerts are issued on a regional basis. Some customers travel routinely and, in this instance, the ability to enter as many as five ZIP codes can be helpful. This way, travelers can receive AMBER Alerts for several different areas, so someone who commutes from Durham to Raleigh or from Charleston to Charlotte often, has the option to receive AMBER Alerts in more than one area. Will I receive Wireless AMBER Alerts when I'm traveling? Typically, you will receive Wireless AMBER Alerts when you are out of your home coverage area, just as you receive text messages of any kind when you are traveling. In some rare instances, however, your text messages may not be forwarded to your mobile device in remote areas. Will I get unrelated, unwanted text messages besides Wireless AMBER Alerts if I register to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts? No. Information you provide will be used solely for the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative and will not be shared with additional parties. The only text messages you will ever receive from the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative are as follows: Initial AMBER Alerts that pertain to the geographic area you have selected Updates concerning a specific AMBER Alert Cancellation messages concerning a specific AMBER Alert Confirmation messages when you modify your Wireless AMBER Alerts profile. How can I unsubscribe to Wireless AMBER Alerts? You can unsubscribe to Wireless AMBER Alerts at any time. Simply follow the directions listed below. 1. Go to www.wirelessamberalerts.org. to unsubscribe. 2. Enter your wireless number and follow the directions to be removed from the wireless AMBER Alert distribution program.