The issue of content control on the Internet and managing children’s spending in the digital age is always a significant challenge for parents.
Numerous unexpected situations have occurred. Recently, a shocking story unfolded in China, when a couple discovered that their 8-year-old daughter used their account to donate 71,803 yuan (approximately over 260 million VND) to a male streamer. What’s alarming is that the parents’ phone had a password, yet the girl was still able to complete the transaction, leaving them utterly confused and panicking for help as soon as they found out.
Specifically, a mother living in Xinjiang reported that her 8-year-old daughter was captivated by a famous streamer on the live-streaming platform. The girl spent a lot of time watching live streams and gradually idolized this streamer. Although the parents set a password on their phone and frequently monitored their child’s screen time, the girl still found a way to access the account.
She shared in shock when one day she suddenly discovered their savings had vanished: “I needed money for something, so I checked the bank account and found only 50 yuan left, which left the whole family in panic. I felt like the sky was falling. This is the money we worked hard to earn.”
“My 8-year-old daughter usually uses my phone at home to play. When the grandparents use the phone to make payments and transfers, they don’t hide the password from her, so she memorized it.” – This highlights the clever yet reckless nature of children when drawn into the virtual world.
Not only that, the girl also knew how to use online payment applications to conduct transactions. She continuously donated large amounts of money to attract the attention of the streamer, reaching the top 1 donate. This shows that children today can learn and utilize technology in ways that are much more sophisticated than what adults think.
“After that, she used the phone in the live streaming room and was captivated by the enthusiastic greetings and the extravagant performances of the male streamer. She started giving him virtual gifts. Over 70,000 yuan of savings disappeared, so I called the police for help.” – Upon discovering the incident, the couple was utterly shocked and could not believe their eyes.
The entire family’s savings had “vanished into thin air” just because of the lack of control over their child.
Parents Panic and Seek Help: A Lesson for the Community
After discovering the incident, the girl’s parents immediately contacted the police, and the authorities reached out to the customer service department of the platform to assist the parents in gathering detailed transaction records from the bank card, thereby effectively recording the details and times of transactions. After relentless efforts, the platform ultimately determined that these high-value purchases were made by a minor without the consent of a guardian. They approved a full refund request, successfully recovering the losses.
The fortunate parent stated: “Thanks to the police’s help, the money has been retrieved.”
The police chief expressed their happiness in helping the family recover their losses. However, retrieving the money was not easy and required legal intervention. They hope that parents and platforms can learn from this incident and enhance supervision of how minors use electronic devices and mobile payments. This incident not only caused significant financial damage but also serves as a crucial lesson for families.
This Story is a Valuable Wake-Up Call for All Parents
Parents cannot neglect managing their children’s electronic devices: Just setting a password is not enough. Parents need to regularly check usage history, limit time and content that their children can access.
Control spending and bank accounts: Ensure that children cannot easily perform payment transactions. Consider using spending management apps to receive notifications whenever there is a transaction.
Spend time talking to children: More importantly, parents need to spend more time talking and sharing with their children, helping them understand the value of money and the potential risks online.
The case of this 8-year-old girl is a classic example of the severe consequences when children are drawn into the virtual world without strict supervision from adults. Hopefully, this story will help parents realize the importance of educating and protecting their children from online dangers.
According to Ettoday