Family loses $12k through TikTok

[kelownman]

What a surprise (sarcasm for those who dont see it) parents blame others for their own mistake! Sure, it is a lot of money to lose, but really....you want/expect Apple/TikTok to refund the $12 THOUSAND dollars because you allowed your daughter to use YOUR credit card? Unbelievable! YOUR mistake, take ownership and stop blaming others!


https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-s ... htm#315067

[ferri]

They were right though when they wondered why they weren't contacted by MasterCard. I've been contacted when there was a $200.00 purchase that seemed out of character for me.

[kelownman]

It isn't Apple that allowed your daughter free access to your credit card. It isn't TikTok's fault that you allowed your daughter free access to your credit card. It isn't MasterCards fault that you didn't select the option to be notified when a certain limit is reached on your balance. It is ALL on YOU for allowing your daughter to spend $12 THOUSAND dollars for "likes". It is all on you for not using the tools the credit card company gives you to be notified when a dollar limit accumulates on your credit card. Maybe the parents should get the daughter to reimburse them over the next 10 to 20 years of half her wages. And she better get a job, she is 13 after all. Babysitting is a job!

[Queen K]

Again it's a parenting issue. I'm taking it 2K of this bill is legit from mom, easy to get to 2 grand these days. But the other $12K?

I am thinking asking your teens, "What is on your phone? What are you doing all day on the phone, that giant computer the size of a hamster. Where are you navigating to? Who are you talking to?" type questions must be done. Like that young girl who got kidnapped here in Kelowna and ended up sleeping in a car in Rutland, parents had no idea who she was chatting with.

You can pay for boosts on Facebook, why not TikTok? Getting people to pay for likes is part of their business model, but I wonder how many parents really know their kid is doing it? These parents can't be alone in this. I'm taking it after this article, thousands more are finding out.

From the article:

"The bill arrived and it was for almost $14,000. I started to make some phone calls and in the meantime, we could hear our daughter sobbing in the background.”

While she immediately called MasterCard, her husband spoke to their daughter, who admitted she had been purchasing TikTok coins on her device, linked to the mother’s credit card from a one-time app authorization purchase.

TikTok gives users the ability to pay real money to purchase virtual coins, which are then exchanged for likes and follows from well-known TikTok stars.

In fact, their daughter spent so much money she had managed to get the fourth most followed TikTok user, Addison Rae, to follow her videos. Rae is now the second most followed user on TikTok.

In a typical month, the family’s Apple purchases amount to $30-$40. Between March 21 and April 21, close to $12,000 was spent on Apple purchases.

But despite the massive difference in spending, MasterCard did not flag the charges as unusual activity. "

Wow!

If I didn't phone Visa and let them know of a out of country trip, they would have tried to contact me to ask questions. But up to $14,000 is not questioned by Mastercard?

Is it because it's dozens of small amounts adding up? Not $12,000 all at once?

and more importantly, I wonder how many kids are doing this?

[Bsuds]

I have no sympathy for someone who falls for a scam or lets their kid use a credit card.

How many times has this been in the News and some still do it.

They could have used a pre paid card and not had this problem.

[Bsuds]

If I didn't phone Visa and let them know of a out of country trip, they would have tried to contact me to ask questions.

They don't require you to do this anymore. At least not on our Visa they don't.

[Lady tehMa]

I don't authorize in-app purchases on my own phone, much less my kids phones (but I made my kids buy their own, so maybe I"m not a good example?)

[Queen K]

If I didn't phone Visa and let them know of a out of country trip, they would have tried to contact me to ask questions.

They don't require you to do this anymore. At least not on our Visa they don't.

This was in 2016 for Iceland. So you're saying four years later charges can suddenly start appearing somewhere else and no one would blink an eye? How downhill we have gone.

[OKkayak]

TikTok gives users the ability to pay real money to purchase virtual coins, which are then exchanged for likes and follows from well-known TikTok stars.

Wait, what? You pay for people to like you?

But yeah, I agree with the other posts - your kids, your card, your responsibility.

[Queen K]

Hmmm, imagine if Castanet hit on this idea. QK pays Castanet to ensure her posts gets "likes".
I would throw a fit when I reached $12,000 and had no idea!

This is sort of what the young teen did. She's saying she had no idea a bill would arrive and how detailed it'd be? Sounds like this could be part of a financial literacy lesson.

Kids, this is what the bill looks like, yes it's on line too, so you can't intercept the mail and throw it out.
Yes, we know what the exact charges are and from where.
Yes, it needs to be paid in full, every month or it quickly spirals out of control.
Here's a calculator, let's do some math for say, balances x, y, and z and what they reach if not paid per month.

I don't envy parents today. But if I had kids, ^^the above would be a kitchen table lesson delivered with "and if you EVER think you can escape your financial responsibilities, I will HAUNT you."

I feel badly for these parents, they think their kid did this only when they were at work? with a phone she could have been doing it in her room while dinner was being made. Heck, I had a a parent tell me that their young boy got a foul with the law downloading pedo porn in a church bathroom. With phones it can be anywhere, any time.

It's much more complicated these days.

I'm not on IG, TT, or Twitter and a host of others. FB and here. That's it.

[Even Steven]

$12K for something you can't even touch lol. Sad.

[Queen K]

OHH God! For all things we all spend that amount on over the year. Stupid temporary stuff

[TylerM4]

Agree with you OP.

This is 100% their fault and they need to take ownership - not point the finger.

Funny how some seem to think that a courtesy service from mastercard, which is in no way promised or included in the contract you sign when apply is somehow mandatory and MC should take some of the blame.

You're a moron for giving you kid the ability to charge your CC. Nobody else is at fault - just you. Next you'll be blaming Honda for a crash after handing the keys over to the child.

[jimmy4321]

Normally I'd agree that it's no ones fault but the parents.
Up to the last 5yrs every time i travelled cross country at some point my credit card would be frozen till i contacted the company and let them know i was travelling , and gave an approximate date id be on home turf (VISA or MC)

So in this case i would have thought the card would be flagged for the multiple charges and the owner contacted.

[normaM]

I am trying to imagine my parents giving me their charge cards. HAHAHAHAHA
Only allowance I got was being allowed to live there.. Mastercard prolly didn't contact them because they run big bills monthly.
I've only been contacted once, for a $10,000 purchase made on line in another City.
Kid had her moment on TikTok tho