Case study 8 : Unauthorised in-app purchases: preventing and managing unexpected spending
The context: unauthorised in-app purchases
Maxime, 12, loves mobile games and Roblox. His parents, Sophie and Julien, notice repeated purchases appearing on their bank account without being told. The situation reflects a vulnerability to the commercial persuasion mechanisms built into apps.
The problem: uncontrolled spending
The problem quickly grows, revealing several phenomena:
Repeated microtransactions
Maxime spends small amounts several times a day, adding up to large sums. This mechanism exploits the virtual currency bias, making spending feel less real.
Subtle manipulation
Games use persuasion techniques (dark patterns) to encourage purchases: limited-time counters, instant gratification, artificial scarcity.
Financial and family impact
Regular arguments over unauthorised purchases and tension with Maxime, who feels watched. The situation creates a conflict between the autonomy the child wants and the parents’ financial responsibility.
The wake-up call
Julien finds a bank statement showing €150 spent in less than a week. He realises the problem goes beyond simple parental control. This financial wake-up call marks the shift from reactive management to a systematic prevention strategy.
How Vigiloo helped
Vigiloo made proactive management of digital spending possible:
Real-time activity tracking
In-app purchases and payment attempts spotted through a consolidated transaction dashboard.
Automatic alerts
Immediate notification to parents as soon as a purchase is attempted, allowing real-time approval and traceability of purchasing behaviour.
Secure settings
Purchase limits, parental codes and locked payment options through role-based access controls (RBAC) adapted to minors.
The results
No further purchases without parental approval. Two-factor authentication set up for every transaction.
Maxime understands financial limits and the need for control. He is building digital financial literacy, including the idea of a virtual budget.
The parents support his learning to manage money in a digital context, encouraging gradual responsibility and family rules on online spending built together.
