ISLAND MP Bob Seely has stepped in to help a mother whose disabled son lost his £3,000 life savings on a 'free' online game.

As previously reported, Susie Breare's, 22-year-old son Michael has cerebral palsy, complex epilepsy, autism, learning difficulties and has a cognitive ability of a seven-year-old child.

But, after suffering a seizure during a family holiday in Turkey, he was restricted to his bedroom and played a game called Hidden Artifacts, not realising that every time he clicked to a new page he was being charged through iTunes.

Susie, from Yarmouth, contacted Mr Seely who has now written to Nicky Morgan, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

In the letter, Mr Seely has asked what steps are being taken by the government to rectify the issues faced by Michael and others in similar situations.

And he wants to know what extent the issues faced by Michael have affected people across the country.

Mr Seely has also written to the chief executive of the company responsible for Hidden Artifacts to try to obtain a refund for Michael.

Mr Seely said: "It is important that action is taken, not only to obtain compensation for Susie and Michael, but also to try to prevent this sort of thing from happening again.

"I do not like the way some internet firms appear to take advantage of vulnerable people.

"It's awful and I want the government to see what can be done to protect folks more.

"Michael's case appears to have raised wider issues that need to be addressed, urgently."

Susie is worried that with the success of a British teenager winning £900,000 on Fortnite recently, other youngsters will get drawn in and lose thousands of pounds.

She said: "Bob's input is wonderful news. Michael's misfortune has increased awareness regarding this problem and I am delighted that something is now being done to try and prevent others, in particular, vulnerable children and adults, from being taken advantage of unwittingly.

"The law needs Mickey's Law whereby online gaming needs to be regulated like gambling.

"A free game should be a free game, a game with 'in app' purchases should have an initial purchase price attached to it."

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