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Amber Alert issued Monday

Some smartphone users in Florida received a loud wireless Amber Alert at 1:45 a.m. Monday.

It was issued as part of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program. The alert notified residents that a child was reported missing and thought to be abducted, but was later found safe and alive. In the past, the Wireless Amber Alert program sent the notifications, but it ended Dec. 31.

The WEA program is an emergency alert system that mobile device owners are automatically signed up for if they have a WEA-capable smartphone, according to CTIA The Wireless Association® website. All WEA-capable phones carry a CTIA WEA logo.

To opt out of receiving Amber Alerts, mobile users can contact their service provider.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued the Amber Alert at the request of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, but the department did not issue the mobile alert, said communications director Gretl Plessinger.

Kristen Morrell edited this story online.

Stefanie is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org