DD has had large sums of money put into her account

[MummyInTheNecropolis]

I noticed she had been spending a lot recently, and when questioned she said it was money she had saved up. I was suspicious so opened her bank statement today and she has received £500 from someone I’ve never heard of, in 6 different payments all made in the same day. She claims this must have been paid to her by mistake and she lied because she knew she shouldn’t be spending it. I don’t believe her, but I can’t think why someone would be paying her this amount?

I am planning to phone the bank but I don’t think they’ll be able to tell me much. I wondered if anyone here might have any ideas? DD is 14.

she denies ever actually going through with it

Well that’s clearly not true considering she’s had £500 put into her account. She must think you are a right idiot.

So when she said she had never gone through with it, didnt you say "so where did this money come from and why are you spending it"

She is still denying knowing where the money is from, but is getting closer to confessing, I’m sure of it. Losing my rag with her will only make things worse, believe me. I’ve been there before, it doesn’t work with her. I’m certain she has given her details to someone as part of a deets and squares scam. We are getting closer to the truth.

Good luck, hope she confesses and You all get it sorted xx

Good luck, hope she confesses and You all get it sorted xx

I feel a subsequent confession coming.

Certainly sounds like it. If she does "confess", the important thing to do is praise her honesty and reassure her that you are not angry. She needs to understand that she has been exploited and it's wrong, but she is a victim, not a criminal. Then have lots of discussion about how to protect herself from further exploitation in the future.

I would tell her point blank, calmly, that you weren't born yesterday, and no one would give her £500 out of the kindness of their heart. You don't have to be angry, but you also don't have to allow her to spew bullshit while you sit there and swallow it.

It couldn't be an Onlyfans account, could it? She might of lied about her age?

F

That's already been suggested - apologies.

So for those of you who accused others of over reacting /scaremongering etc, I hope this teaches you that teenagers online are so vulnerable to this kind of shit. Don’t ever think it can’t/won’t happen to your family.

Just to add, she has no opportunity to cover her tracks or to warn anybody as she has no phone and no way of contacting anyone.

Good luck. This must be a shock.

OP she could very easily have another phone.

www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/29/how-teenage-money-mules-funnel-millions-from-online-fraud

Well this has been an education for me! Good luck OP

Well done for keeping calm with her. Kicking off will not help anything. I think you are doing the right thing and like you say she is close to confessing. Keep calm and I'm sure she will be honest eventually. She knows she's in trouble and if she knows you're not going to lose your shit she's more likely to own up b

Scary. I’ve got teenage daughters and didn’t know about this.

hope you get the answers you need this is very worrying

That’s great she’s talking to you. I’d never heard of deets and squares. Having teenagers sounds even harder than small children in lots of ways. At least I know where mine are and what they’re doing at all times. Hope I can handle it like you are, OP, when my time comes. (Also, I used to nap loads as a teenager)

The payments all went in on 23rd June. No other payments before or since (I have been through all of her statements.) I’m certain she doesn’t have another phone, but even if she did she will not be out of my sight now so wouldn’t be able to use it anyway.

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Could she have stolen the money.

So for those of you who accused others of over reacting /scaremongering etc, I hope this teaches you that teenagers online are so vulnerable to this kind of shit. Don’t ever think it can’t/won’t happen to your family.

^^ This. It's scary how many people out there don't think twice about scamming teenagers and the elderly.
I hope that she confesses and that things can start to get sorted tomorrow.

Bloody hell, how scary for you.