Amber Alert Q&A: Why It Happens, How To Turn It Off - Latimes.com

5 Things You Need To Know About Cellphone Amber Alerts
A cellphone displays the Amber Alert issued late on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California, which marked the first time officials have notified the public of a statewide Amber Alert through their cellphones. The alert was in reference to James Lee DiMaggio, suspected of killing Christina Anderson, 44, and kidnapping one or both of her children: Hannah Anderson, 16, and Ethan Anderson, 8. Cellphone owners reportedly received messages automatically based on their proximity to the emergency, and not based on their phone number. The Amber Alerts sent out overnight described the vehicle DiMaggio is believed to be traveling in: a blue Nissan Versa with California license plate 6WCU986. Authorities believe the suspect may be making his way north to Canada. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
A cellphone displays the Amber Alert issued late on August 5, 2013 in Los Angeles, California, which marked the first time officials have notified the public of a statewide Amber Alert through their cellphones. The alert was in reference to James Lee DiMaggio, suspected of killing Christina Anderson, 44, and kidnapping one or both of her children: Hannah Anderson, 16, and Ethan Anderson, 8. Cellphone owners reportedly received messages automatically based on their proximity to the emergency, and not based on their phone number. The Amber Alerts sent out overnight described the vehicle DiMaggio is believed to be traveling in: a blue Nissan Versa with California license plate 6WCU986. Authorities believe the suspect may be making his way north to Canada. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

The high-pitched Amber Alert that hit cellphones across Southern California overnight may have confounded and annoyed, but the text message also prompted a fresh round of questions.

Chief among them: Just what was that and how can I stop it from happening again?

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