Game scam

Free ??? children’s games scam, a friends 7 year old get a free downloads a free??? game and completes the first stage, to progress the child has to buy a hoard of gold, the innocent, thinking its part of the game buys the hoard £70.00 plays the game for some weeks, buying hoards to progress to other stages of the game, my friend, the child’s mother gets a bank statement showing several hundred pounds have gone from her account, I don’t know the name of the game as yet, but as soon as I do I’m going to facebook and twitter it. The child was grounded for a week, no TV no guides no goodies. Harsh lesson for a 7 year old. :cry:cry:cry

 

My first question is how on earth was a 7-year-old child allowed access to its parents bank account in order to do it in the first place???? I think the mother has also learned a harsh, but much-needed, lesson.

 

Ah, well that would make a big difference. I don't own an Apple product other than my first generation iPod Nano, so I didn't know that. The way Tony put it, it sounds like his friend's kid used a debit card to pay since the money was removed from the mother's bank account. Which sounds like a parent who gives their child too much access. If that's not the case, then I stand corrected, and apologize for my assumption.

 

I agree 100%.

The same is true with most cell phone carriers (AT&T, Verizon, etc.). If you add a line to a family plan, the phone and billing account are set by default to allow the user (child) to download ringtones, music, games, etc. - all added to mommy and daddy's bill. Unless the parent sets up purchase blocking on the phone number by contacting customer service, it's anything goes.

Even if you're a careful adult user, phone companies can and will pull scams. Example: A few months after activating my current phone, I got a free text message from AT&T (yes, truly from AT&T and not a spoof) telling me I could download a free ring tone, no strings attached. When I clicked on the link, within 30 seconds I had a another text message thanking me for signing up for "Jamster" (at $10 per month!).

I called AT&T and spent 15 minutes on hold before I reached a rep who (after I explained at least three times I responded to an official AT&T text message offering something "free") finally canceled the service and credited my bill. Although she agreed it was a genuine message from AT&T, she was at a loss to explain how a "free" offer signed me up for a paid service, even before I downloaded the "free" ringtone. rolleyes