Father Removes Son's Credit Card And Insists He Secures Job To Repay Money He Spent On Unmet Online Girlfriend
In today's digital age, parenting comes with a new set of challenges. With the rise of online gaming and social media, parents like OP find themselves grappling with issues they never faced in their youth.
One such dilemma arose when OP's 16-year-old son, an avid gamer, entered into an online relationship with a girl he met while gaming on his PlayStation 5. OP's concern for his son's safety online was understandable.
With limited information about the girl and no face-to-face interaction, OP worried about the potential risks of online relationships. However, his son's situation took a concerning turn when he began receiving hefty bills on his credit card for in-game purchases.
Despite OP's instructions to use the credit card responsibly, his son found himself caught between financial obligations and the demands of his online girlfriend. When OP asked his son about the charges, the son explained what was going on.
He felt like he had to do what his girlfriend wanted and buy things in the game because he was afraid of what would happen if he said no. OP decided to pay off the charges to help his son but also to teach him about being responsible with money.
He wanted his son to understand that when you spend money, you need to pay it back. But this made things tense between them and caused them to argue, making it hard for them to talk and get along.
OP has a 16-year-old son who loves video games, so he bought him a PlayStation 5 for his birthday last year, he plays online with friends, but recently, he told OP he's been chatting online with a girl and they've started dating.
They don't use the microphone because hers is broken and his son doesn't know what she looks like, so OP warned him to be cautious about what he sends her and not to share personal information.
OP's son has a credit card for emergencies with a spending limit, but this month OP saw multiple charges of $50-$100 for his game, OP was angry and confronted him about the charges.
His son told him that his girlfriend demanded new items for her game and threatened to break up if he didn't buy them, so OP suggesting him to find a job.
He got mad, saying he couldn't work because of sports and school, so OP took his credit card away.
His son only talks to him when he needs a ride to see his friends and it's upset because OP told him he has to pay back the money he spent on his online girlfriend and get a job.
OP's son is definitely being scammed.
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The girlfriend's situation is suspicious, he might be getting scammed.
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OP must make it clear there are consequences, like holding him responsible for the money he gave away.
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OP's son needs to learn from this mistake and repay the money he lost.
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The phrase "My mic is broken" is a red flag for scammers.
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Regardless of whether she's real, her behavior is toxic, and OP's son should break things off.
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OP made the right call taking back the credit card.
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This experience can serve OP's son as a lesson to avoid being taken advantage of in the future, especially when it comes to more intimate relationships.
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OP's son might be in a tricky situation where someone might be trying to trick him out of money. The excuses his girlfriend gives, like saying her microphone is broken, seem fishy and could be signs of a scam.
OP did the right thing by taking control of the credit card again and telling his son he has to pay back the money he spent. OP's son needs to learn from this experience and be careful in the future, especially when it comes to online relationships.
Even if the girlfriend is real, her behavior isn't okay, and it might be best for OP's son to end things with her. This whole situation can teach OP's son to be more careful and not let people take advantage of him, especially when it comes to trusting others online.
