An inquest into the death of teenage football fan revealed he had run up a £400-plus bill on his mother’s credit card without her knowledge. Simone Okane explores the dangers of youngsters playing and buying online games with their parents’ stored payment details

CHILDREN are constantly being educated on the dangers of the internet, from online grooming to cyber bullying.

But now it seems both parents and their children also need to know the pitfalls of the ease of buying new games and apps via computers and mobile phones.

Youngsters can make transactions in seconds, with credit card details stored on the system, and the billpayer blissfully unaware until the post arrives.

The dangers of children running up costs to download the latest crazes is becoming a global issue which has been recognised by East Lancashire experts.

Last week, the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Henry Tattersall heard how the Darwen schoolboy spent £422 on Xbox games on a credit card belonging to his mother and her partner.

After being told off over the unexpected bill, he was later found hanged in his bedroom at the family’s Rossendale home.

A coroner said he thought Henry believed he would be found before he died.

His devastated mother was unaware the trans-actions had been made on her card until she received a statement because he bought the games via the console.

But Henry, an avid Burnley FC fan, was only doing what millions of other children do, following the craze to have the latest apps and games – a trend that has taken the industry by storm.

According to a national survey, last year, parents lost £30million because of their children’s unauthorised purchases.

Paul Triandafilou, programme leader on the BSc Hons Computer Games Enterprise at UCLan Burnley, said parents needed more education on how the industry works.

He said: “In many households, parents see them as an easy way to keep their children occupied and amused in the safe environment of their bedroom. Unfortunately, this can be a misconception on their behalf, as there are many potential dangers to children the parents must make themselves aware of.”

He also said he thinks the gaming industry needs to face up to its responsibilities, and added: “Children have become so competitive and motivated during their play that they are prepared and willing to go to any extent to successfully complete the game they are playing.

“The gaming industry also has a major role to play, and should not be allowed to just disregard its responsibilities.”

According to the Office of Fair Trading, nine out of 10 children aged seven to 15 have played online games and their parents have registered their card details.

Last year, five-year-old Danny Kitchen ran up a £1,700 bill on his parent’s iPad.

Last month, police chief Mark Smith spoke out after a 13-year-old Blackburn boy admitted raping his sister after watching porn on his friend’s Xbox.

The Greater Manchester Police detective superintendent said mums and dads needed to keep up with advances in internet technology.

He urged them to talk regularly to their children about what they do, and who they talk to on the web, and make sure that all appropriate online safety measures were in place.

He said: “A lot don’t realise youngsters access the internet through their games console, iPod touch and mobile phone.

“Parents need to know about parental controls, turn them on, and talk to their children about who they talk to on social media, and where on the net they go.”

To set up an iTunes account or an Xbox Live account, a debit or credit card has to be registered and if the user is under 18, an adult must authorise their details and create a password.

Following Henry’s death, Xbox manufact-urers Microsoft said they urged parents to review and activate settings on the games console as a way forward.

But Jake Berry, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, said more was needed.

He said: “I think it’s time for the computer industry to deliver self-regulation and I would back any campaign to stop further tragedies.”