Boy from Kentucky arranges delivery of 70,000 Dum-Dum lollipops using his mother's phone as a prank to distribute among friends.
Sticky Situation: Kentucky Mom Faces a Lolli- crapstorm After Son's Digital Shopping Spree
In the heart of Kentucky, a local mom, Holly LaFavers, found herself drowning in a pool of colorful, sugary delights when a barrage of lollipop-filled boxes showed up on her doorstep. But it wasn't a birthday surprise or a sweet gesture from her loved ones. It was her child's innocent—yet costly—digital shopping spree.
The little culprit behind this sugary disaster? An 8-year-old named Liam, whose fingers somehow ended up on his mother's phone, initiating an 70,000 Dum-Dum sucker order. By the time Holly noticed the rampant lollipop acquisition, it was already too late. Amazon had dispatched 22 cases to her home, overfilling her house with sweet treats that she neither wanted nor could afford.
"He told me that he wanted to have a carnival and he was ordering the Dum-Dums as prizes for his carnival," Holly recalled, chuckling at the adorable, yet pricey, plan. "Again, he was being friendly, he was being kind to his friends."
But Liam's generosity didn't stop at those sugary prizes. An expensive check of the bank account revealed a whopping bill of around $4,000. Holly was left reeling, feeling like she had been hit by a truckload of Dum-Dums.
To add insult to injury, eight more cases of lollipops vanished, leaving Holly in a state of confusion and worry. After a frantic trip to the post office, those cases were returned to sender.
Fortunately, after a marathon of working with the bank and fielding calls from news stations, Holly finally received a call from Amazon, promising a refund. "After a long day… Amazon called and they are refunding my money," she announced on social media, offering a small sense of relief in the sea of sweet chaos.
Determined to ensure such a sugary mess never happens again, Holly is dusting off her device settings and updating her parental control measures. As the wise cookie that she is, Holly would surely agree—sometimes, the sweetest lessons come with a high price tag.
Based on an article by The Associated Press
Enrichment Data:To effectively prevent unauthorized Amazon orders, consider the following strategies:1. Use Built-in Parental Controls on Amazon Devices: Utilize the native parental control features available on Amazon Fire Tablets, Fire TV, and Prime Video to manage and monitor children's online activity and set purchase restrictions.2. Set Up Purchase Restrictions and PINs: Require a PIN or password for all purchases on your Amazon account and disable one-click purchasing for enhanced security.3. General Parental Control Practices: Use parental control tools for Android, Apple, or Windows devices to block in-app purchases and require approval for app downloads or purchases. Have a discussion with your children about your family's online purchasing rules, explaining why these controls are in place.4. Monitor and Review Account Activity: Regularly review your Amazon order history and subscriptions to catch unauthorized purchases quickly. Enable notifications for each purchase to stay informed.5. Protect Against Subscriptions and In-App Purchases: Disable in-app purchases on devices your children use and review active subscriptions to cancel any unauthorized ones.
By implementing these practices, you can reduce the risk of your child making unauthorized Amazon orders.
- Holly LaFavers, the Kentucky mom, was overwhelmed when 22 cases of Dum-Dum lollipops arrived at her home, the aftermath of her son's digital shopping spree.
- As Liam's news of a carnival spread, he used his mother's phone to order 70,000 Dum-Dum lollipops as prizes, racking up a $4,000 bill.
- The home-and-garden, lifestyle, deals-and-discounts, and other sections of the family's shopping life were disrupted by the influx of lollipops, leaving them with a worse financial situation.
- After a day of negotiating with the bank and fielding calls from news stations, Holly finally received a promise of refunding from Amazon, providing a sense of relief in the sea of sweet chaos.
- To prevent future unauthorized Amazon orders, Holly decided to update her parental control measures, learning that the sweetest lessons sometimes come with a high price tag.
