He was unaware that the money was being deducted from his mother's debit card

A Cork mother has said her family is facing a bleak Christmas this year after her 14-year-old son accidentally spent her entire month's wages playing a FIFA video game.

The Cork woman said she purchased PlayStation's FIFA 18 game for her 14-year-old son on her debit card.

However, this led to her son unknowingly purchasing points while playing the football video game.

When she went to withdraw money from her bank account, she was informed that she had insufficient funds.

After calling her bank, the Cork mother discovered that her entire month's wages were gone, and she was informed that she had lost her bonus too.

The family is now facing a cash-strapped Christmas as a result.

Speaking to PJ Coogan on Cork's 96FM on Thursday, the woman - who does not wish to be named - said that her son is up upset that he has been unable to leave his bedroom.

The woman is now issuing a warning to other families to be aware of purchasing points, as she claims that she did not see an alert as the money was being deducted from her card.

"I get paid monthly so my pay cheque went in last Friday for four weeks' wages and they took the whole month's pay out of the card," she said.

“He just didn’t understand but every 10 points was costing him more money. I think you need the points to move players but I am not aware of how it works.

“When purchasing the game or playing it they don’t tell you that this has a cost element. He didn’t have to do anything or click anything to activate my card.

“He never knew that when he was clicking away the money was being taken out of my account.”

She added: “I went down to the bank to get money out. I was told I had insufficient funds. I was just after being paid and I didn’t understand what was wrong so then I rang the bank.

“They said PlayStation was constantly moving money from my account. It ended up being my month’s pay.

“I contacted PlayStation and they told me that it was an adults' game. I explained he was 14 and he didn’t understand he was playing with money.

"He didn’t have to do anything or click anything to activate my card."

The concerned mother said she wants other parents to be aware, especially at this time of year when they may be planning to purchase similar games.

“Maybe there was [a lock or warning system in place] but my 14-year-old son didn’t see it. He did not have to put in card details or anything as my card was already registered.

“This was my first Christmas working full time and then to go to your bank account and find it empty with the whole month's pay and overtime in the buildup to Christmas just gone is horrendous.

“I had to take my son out of school after speaking to the bank so that he could go home and take everything offline as money was still going out of my account."

She said her son has been so upset by the situation that he has stayed in his room. His mother said he has become withdrawn and is blaming himself.

"He reckoned he has spoiled Christmas for his family. I can't even get him to school," she said.

“There is no point in giving out to him because he is punishing himself more than I could ever have imagined."

PlayStation have a number of security measures in place including parental controls to prevent in-app purchasing.

However, they warn that all customers must take every precaution to protect their personal details.

Guidelines on parental controls can be found here and guidelines on safety and security can be found here.

Online Editors