Put a lock on your credit card and unlock only when your DH are using card.

Several of my son’s close friends (2nd-3rd grade) have been in a similar same scenario- used parents credit cards or passwords (which may have been initially set up in the account for an authorized purchase) to purchase Robux or similar. It wasn’t $3k, but added up to hundreds of dollars in most cases. In most of these cases, the parents were able to push to get the money back. And in all of these cases, the child lost gaming access for a very long time.

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand how someone can steal THAT MUCH for online gaming. Over how long a period of time? Weeks? You caught it only when the card hit its limit and was declined?

Call the credit card number to report fraud. I think you may get the money back.

This kid needs serious discipline, OP. He needs to be scared straight. I would ban all devices for the summer. He can have a summer of reading and Legos, it will be good for him.

He needs to get a summer job even if it is mowing your lawn, washing clothes, doing dishes. Whatever you need
He gets paid $5.00/hr. That is 600 hours of "work' to repay this debt..

Why on earth should OP get a refund? The kid was granted access to the account, and had the password.

I'm not shill for corporations, but I truly don;t understand the thought process that someone else, even a large corporate entity, is responsible for this complete and utter parental failure.

not sure I believe this story. How is this kid getting your passwords? Why isn't your passwords on your phone locked with a code that the kid doesn't know?

This kid would have NO internet access, no cell phone nothing, be grounded for months and get a spanking he won't forget.

Return everything he bought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remove ALL access to the internet. Cold turkey. Phones, tablets, computers, gaming systems. He can play with legos and magnatiles until he earns the family trust back.

I wish this ^^ could be the case, and I almost can’t believe 9 year olds are in these platforms. But what about at school? Have you seen the types of things kids this age can access via their school-issued laptops during school hours? Or will the school work with you to put more restrictions on his internet access? If it’s DCPS, good luck.

Ok, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort at home.

This is a patent failure. If your 8 year old can obtain your password multiple times you are doing something wrong.

Anonymous wrote:Remove ALL access to the internet. Cold turkey. Phones, tablets, computers, gaming systems. He can play with legos and magnatiles until he earns the family trust back.

I wish this ^^ could be the case, and I almost can’t believe 9 year olds are in these platforms. But what about at school? Have you seen the types of things kids this age can access via their school-issued laptops during school hours? Or will the school work with you to put more restrictions on his internet access? If it’s DCPS, good luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to immediately contact Epic Games, explain that the purchases were unauthorized, and request a refund.

Obviously, your child needs a serious consequence, including shutting down the Fortnite account. But your kid does not understand what $3,000 is or how it would impact family safety/security.

This. Contact the company.

It's time to cut your kid off from the games OP. He is so young that he doesn't really understand what he is doing.

You may also want to make a point: we can't go to the movies because you already spent that money, we can't get takeout because you already spent that money, we can't get snacks, because you already spent that money. It will take him a while to understand.

He won't know the word, but he will understand that he is being parentified because his parents are irresponsible. He will be angry and hurt.

That is not an example of being parentified.

Sell the kid. You can't handle more than one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to immediately contact Epic Games, explain that the purchases were unauthorized, and request a refund.

Obviously, your child needs a serious consequence, including shutting down the Fortnite account. But your kid does not understand what $3,000 is or how it would impact family safety/security.

This. Contact the company.

It's time to cut your kid off from the games OP. He is so young that he doesn't really understand what he is doing.

You may also want to make a point: we can't go to the movies because you already spent that money, we can't get takeout because you already spent that money, we can't get snacks, because you already spent that money. It will take him a while to understand.

He won't know the word, but he will understand that he is being parentified because his parents are irresponsible. He will be angry and hurt.

Anonymous wrote:Serious spanking among other punishments - Asian dad

Spank the parents, yes

Kid didn't "steal" anyone's money. It's digital nothing.

It's not his fault you and the app systems have this shitty system set up designed to entice.

Don't blame the kid for the failures of yourself and other adults

This kid is swimming in debt

JFC! This is diabolical! First, how long have you ignored your child that he did this and you missed signs. 2nd: Fortnite is trash 3rd: You have no safeguards?? 4th: You only have $3k??? You have a lot of problems. Good luck!