Two Kolhapur boys spent ₹5 lakh from their farmer father’s account on Free Fire purchases. The money was meant for buying buffaloes. Cyber police are investigating the digital gaming-linked fraud.
Kolhapur| July 07,2025: A shocking incident from Kolhapur has once again highlighted the dark side of online gaming addiction. Two young boys—one in class 6 and the other in class 9—allegedly spent ₹5 lakh from their farmer father’s bank account to purchase virtual weapons and items in the popular online game Free Fire.
The boys, deeply addicted to the game, used their father’s PhonePe account to make repeated in-game purchases without his knowledge. The money they used had been painstakingly saved by the parents to buy buffaloes for their farm. The family was devastated to discover that their entire savings had vanished—without a single physical transaction.
Upon checking their account, the parents found multiple suspicious transactions. After confronting the children, the shocking truth came to light. The incident was immediately reported to the cyber police, who have begun an investigation.
This case underscores the growing threat of unmonitored online game access among children, especially with games that allow in-app purchases linked to bank accounts or UPI platforms. Cyber experts have urged parents to implement strict digital boundaries, avoid sharing payment app credentials with children, and monitor screen time regularly.
Such incidents are not isolated. In many cases, scammers also exploit in-game transactions, leading to further financial losses. The Kolhapur family has not only suffered a financial setback but is also dealing with mental trauma.
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