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The Littlest Hacker That Could: 6 Year Old Hacks Mom With Predictable Results

By George Khoury, Esq. | Last updated on

Parents beware! Your fingerprints may no longer be secure against hackers. No, hackers haven't discovered some new fangled technology to lift your fingerprints over the telephone. The danger is right under the noses of parents, and when parents nap, the newest generation of hackers are getting a head start on disrupting household economics.

Well, maybe this was an isolated incident, but one six year old, in Little Rock, Arkansas, this past holiday season, disrupted the whole one-touch fingerprint security industry during mommy's naptime. While her mother napped on the couch, the young hacker opened the Amazon app on her mother's device, gently used her napping mother's hand to get the fingerprint to bypass the password authorization, and then went on a Pokemon shopping spree. The child made 13 purchases, racking up a modest grand total of about $250. Fortunately for the girl's parents, she had modest desires, as only a few of the items were returnable after being ordered.

Cancelling Orders

While the reports about the six-year-old hacker state that only a few items were returned, it seems unlikely that any retailer would refuse to return purchases made under these pretenses. While the parents opted to keep the majority of the purchases and just give them to their daughter as her Christmas gifts, they likely would've been able to return more of the purchases with some negotiating.

There may have been some restocking fees, and the consumer would likely be required to pay for return shipping, but most retailers, even those with strict policies, would likely be willing to negotiate a return. Additionally, it really begs the question what Pokemon items the young one ordered from Amazon that couldn't be returned, given their liberal return policy.

When Children Steal From Parents?

When a child steals from their parents, technically, it is still considered stealing despite the rationale the child puts forth. Whether or not parents decide to press charges, or even call the police, is a different story. And while the thought of a six year old carefully using her napping mother's finger to order some toys online is hilarious, it's actually a crime.

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