6-year-old kid purchases iPad game worth Rs 11 lakh, mother files for a fraud claim

Wilton (New York): Apple user Jessica Johnson was in a shock when she had discovered that $16,000 (Rs 11 Lakh approximately) was paid to Apple from her account.

However, Jessica was not a victim of debit or credit card fraud. It was her six-year-old son George Johnson, who was busy making in-app purchases on Apple App Store.

Six-year-old George had made a purchase worth $16,000 from Apple App Store using his iPad's version of Sega's Sonic Forces. She had discovered that transactions were made in July when he had started using the iPad for his games and bought add-ons on the games.

On July 8, her account was debited 25 times with around $2,500 (Rs 1.8 lakh app approximately). Johnson initially thought that she was being duped by hackers and had filed for a fraud claim with Chase bank. However, she was later informed by the back that the purchases were made from her account and that she was not duped by anybody.

When Jessica had reached out for help from Apple asking to refund the money, she was refused because she did not claim the money within 60 days, according to Apple's protocol of refund.

Apple had refused to budge even when Jessica had told them that because of the difference in her bank account she would not be able to pay her family's mortgage. She had received her last paycheck in March and 80% of her salary was slashed.

Apple questioned her for not activating the parental controls, of which, Jessica was completely unaware of.

The mother had accused the game of being "completely predatory" in encouraging young users to spend more. "What grownup would spend $100 on a chest of virtual gold coins?", she said.

Nonetheless, Apple does offer a number of Parental Control options for years to manage the iPhone and iPad given the child. Some of the Parental Control options also include limiting purchases and accessing the app. Similar controls are available in macOS.

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