A mother wants parents to be aware of a popular online game after her child caused her to have an expensive bill due to in-app purchases.
According to Good Morning America, millions of children in the United States play games on Roblox. It’s a platform where users can play and program games.
When on the platform, children can find free games, but they have the ability to use a virtual currency called “Robux” to purchase anything within the app. Roblox’s website confirms that Robux can cost anywhere from $4.99 to $99.99.
Sara Louise Petty, a resident of Larchmont, New York, said one of her children spent $1,250 on purchases through a third-party app. Petty noted that she overlooked the purchases until she received her bank statement.
“He set it up with his fingerprint and my fingerprint so that he could access the iPad if I weren’t home,” Petty said. "He was able to use that fingerprint to make purchases.”
A Roblox spokesperson told ABC News in a statement, “We strive to prevent unauthorized purchases and have rigorous safety measures in place, such as not storing full billing information and displaying clear warnings at the time of first purchase. Unfortunately, unauthorized purchases made through certain third-party mobile providers such as iTunes, are managed by these services directly.”
The company said that it urges parents to look over their payment services and make those passwords protected. Parents can also work with the company to refund any unauthorized purchases.
Rachel Simmons, a parenting expert, said that it is essential for parents to set rules for the children.
“So, decide, is it OK for your child to make purchases?” Simmons said. “Give them a budget, if that’s appropriate. Let them know the consequences if they do make purchases that aren’t permissible," Simmons said.
Related
Experts say incidents like children racking up charges on their parent’s credit card have been expected, especially with screen-time increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram