‘Broken’ autistic teen, 19, left in tears after being conned out of £1,400 savings in World of Warcraft game scam Josh Smith’s mother, Janine, says her son ‘couldn’t comprehend the idea that someone may have bad intentions’

Teenager Josh Smith believes everyone is genuine, honest and trustworthy.

So when his mother, Janine, sat him down to explain that his new “online friend” had conned him into forking out £1,400 through a video game, he struggled to accept this was true.

But when he realised it was, the tears came thick and fast for the 19-year-old.

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“Josh just thinks everyone is like him and he couldn’t comprehend the idea that someone may have bad intentions,” said Janine, 42, from Nutley, East Sussex.

He’s been left broken by this. He said his faith in humanity had been lost Janine Smith

“He just kept saying you’re wrong, he’s my friend he wouldn’t scam me. Then once he knew that this was the case he just fell apart. He’s been left broken by this. He said his faith in humanity had been lost.”

It prompted his mother to launch a GoFundMe appeal to ask strangers to restore that faith – and Josh is now “overwhelmed” after more than £600 has rolled in.

Making friends is difficult

Josh was diagnosed with autism when he was two-and-a-half years old. “I have an older child and knew that he was behind in reaching milestones – making eye contact and learning to walk,” said Janine.

“We had a birthday party for him when he was three and that was the last one ever. He really struggled with sensory overload from the noise of all the children and had a melt down.”

Indeed, the World of Warcraft game has offered Josh an escape and way of coping.

“He’s played it since he was about nine. The game provides him with predictability which helps him to make sense of the confusing world he finds himself in.

“Because of his autism making friends is very difficult for Josh so he was very excited to have a new friend.”

Around four weeks ago, this new “friend” convinced Josh to buy £1,400 worth of Blizzard Gift Game Cards and gift them by sending the codes, promising that he or she would pay him back. These cards provide items and services that help a user boost their game.

Now he’s cancelled his World of Warcraft subscription and he won’t play the game anymore which he loved doing. It breaks my heart to see him so upset Janine Smith

Janine heard alarm bells when her son asked her for help in making another payment because his bank had flagged up one of the transactions as suspicious.

“Josh is vulnerable because he believes everything people tell him. We’ve been lucky up until now that no-one at school or at college has ever bullied him or taken advantage of him.

“Now he’s cancelled his World of Warcraft subscription and he won’t play the game anymore which he loved doing. It breaks my heart to see him so upset.”

Autistic children ‘more trusting’ Children on the autism spectrum are more trusting than typically developing children, according to a study. A group of young, school-aged children with the disorder and typically developing (TD) peers of the same age participated in a simple hide-and-seek game. In the game, a researcher who was a stranger to the pupils pointed to or left a marker on a box to indicate the whereabouts of a hidden reward. Results showed that although the autistic children did not blindly trust any information provided by the unfamiliar adult, they appeared to be more trusting in the adult than their peers.

Restoring faith

Janine said she reported the incident to the police but hasn’t heard back. Josh received a £600 refund from his bank but it said it couldn’t reimburse him anymore as he had voluntarily made the payments.

His mother had to go into Josh’s work to explain to his bosses why he “wasn’t himself” and would need extra support.

Josh had been saving up the money to learn how to be independent and manage his own finances.

Janine says her son is now “traumatised” and needs counselling with an autism specialist.

It’s very touching that over £600 has been raised, it really helps to show him that people can be very kind Janine Smith

“Josh has worked since he was 16 as a part-time greenkeeper and has recently gone full time,” she said. “He was saving from his salary so that he can pay for his own golf membership, driving lessons and car insurance but now that money is gone.

“This has had such a negative effect on his mental health, he feels stupid, vulnerable and violated.

“I wouldn’t normally resort to begging with an online appeal but I can’t afford to refund him. His counselling will cost £50 a session, and anything over he can keep for his own funds. It’s very touching that over £600 has been raised, it really helps to show him that people can be very kind.”

To donate to the appeal, visit here.