A Japanese parent recently shared a heartbreaking tale on X: their 8-year-old child, while playing the mobile game "The Battle Cats," unknowingly racked up a staggering 900,000 JPY (approximately 190,000 TWD) in in-game purchases! This unexpected spending spree nearly plunged the entire family into financial ruin and has sparked a serious discussion among netizens about mobile phone safety for children.
The father, known as "Uber配達員" (Uber Delivery Driver) (@Uber420647728), confessed in his post that the old phone was his wife's hand-me-down. To save hassle, they simply gave it to their child, but overlooked a crucial detail: the Apple ID was still logged in, and it was linked to his wife's Rakuten credit card. This oversight inadvertently turned their child into a "mini-whale" and created a massive financial vulnerability for the family!
After two long months of appeals and communication, the shocking in-game purchase bill was finally fully refunded. The original poster revealed that the review period was agonizing, and he had even braced himself for the possibility of never getting the money back and having to shoulder the debt. Fortunately, the official channels ultimately approved the refund request, bringing a happy end to this financially perilous situation caused by a simple oversight.
The post immediately resonated with many other parents online. One commented, "My sixth-grader also secretly used my mom's credit card. Luckily, my phone sent a notification, and I immediately stopped the card when I sensed something was wrong. In the end, it was less than 10,000 JPY, but you really have to be on guard at all times."
Netizens also pointed out that such forced refunds often lead to the game account being permanently banned. However, for this dad, perhaps the account's disappearance is the perfect outcome, preventing his child from falling back into the in-game spending trap.
In this digital age, smartphones are an undeniable part of children's lives. Beyond teaching proper spending habits from a young age, ensuring accounts are logged out and parental controls are activated are crucial defenses that cannot be overlooked! Have you ever faced a bill more terrifying than a ghost story?