My daughter (4 years-old) was playing a Little Petshops app game on my husbands iphone, as I sat next to her watching. She clicked on a button that opened up a virtual store.in the virtual store there were dog houses and such for sale ranging from $2.99 to $99.99. She clicked on the large dog house for $99.99. Nothing warned me that this could be more than a mere pretend store, where the player can make pretend purchases. However, up popped the typical blue "cancel/buy" box. Shocked, I was alarmed because the screen was no longer brightly colored and "make believe" looking anymore. Before I could stop her, she clicked buy. At this point I was concerned and puzzled. I waited another moment, looking to see if the password confirmation box was going to pop up, as it usual does when authentic app purchases is made. Or, if this was indeed a pretend purchase like it was initially portrayed by the game. Nothing pops up except a new virtual dog house for her virtual Little Petshops animal on the screen. Shocked, a bit unnerved, I grabbed the phone, and mention to my husband what I just witnessed. We both find it odd. So my husband decides to test the situation out again, but only purchasing a smaller item in this virtual store for $2.99. Of course this time, a confirmation box pops up. We conclude it must have been as it appeared, an imaginary virtual petstore, with an imaginary dog house for sale of $99.99. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. I received a receipt from itunes, for an in-app purchase from Gameloft for $99.99.in case you are wondering if perhaps my daughter knew our purchasing password on our iphones, let me just assure you. She is 4 years-old. She cannot spell, nor read our password. Additionally, I was sitting right next to her watching as this event unfolded.
This was fraudulent, and completely unethical. For one, the app is configured in a way as to not require a password for the $99.99 purchase. However, it did require a password, not even 1 minute later, for the smaller $2.99 purchase. Two, this is a child's game. As you are playing the game you are lead to believe you are experiencing a pretend shopping experience. Nothing warns you in advance otherwise.in no way should they be taking advantage of young children and their parents by offering what looks like a pretend shopping experience, only for us to find out later we are the owners of a virtual $99.99 dog house.
0 comments