| Author | Message | ||
     Swordsman |
"A 13 year old from Texas who stole his Dad's credit card and ordered two hookers from an escort agency, has today been convicted of fraud and given a three year community order. Ralph Hardy, a 13 year old from Newark, Texas confessed to ordering an extra credit card from his father's existing credit card company, and took his friends on a $30,000 spending spree, culminating in playing "Halo" on an Xbox with a couple of hookers in a Texas motel. The credit card company involved said it was regular practice to send extra credit cards out as long as all security questions are answered. The escort girls who were released without charge, told the arresting officers something was up when the kids said they would rather play Xbox than get down to business. Police said they were alerted to the motel by a concerned delivery clerk, whom after delivering supplies of Dr Pepper, Fritos and Oreos had been asked by the kids where they could score some chicks and were willing to pay. They explained they had just made a big score at a "World of Warcraft" tournament and wanted to get some relaxation. On noting the boys age the delivery clerk informed the authorities. When police arrived at the motel they found $3,000 in cash, numerous electronic gadgets, an Xbox video console with numerous games, and the two local escort girls. Ralph had reportedly told police that his father wouldn't mind, as it was his birthday last week and he had forgot to get him a present. The father, a lawyer said he had been too busy, but would take him on a surprise trip to Disneyland instead. Asked why he ordered two escorts, Ralph said he thought it was the thing to do when you win a "World of Warcraft" tournament. They told the suspicious working girls they were people of restricted growth working with a traveling circus, and as State law does not allow those with disabilities to be discriminated against they had no right to refuse them. The $1,000 a night girls sensing something up played "Halo" on the Xbox with the kids, instead of selling their sexual services. Ralph's ambition is to one day become a politician" http://www.money.co.uk/article/1000390-13-year-old -steals-dads-credit-card-to-buy-hookers.htm Let the jokes commence.... now.  ~SM | ||
| Cataract2 |
Hope he learned something. | ||
| Dynasport |
Funny story. I guess I am too much of a skeptic to believe much any of it though. A story about a teen in Texas on a UK website. The 13 year old's name listed in the story in spite of the fact he is a minor. The dad's name not listed. The boys checked into the hotel without an adult. The 13 year old being charged as an adult. The victim in the crime being the dad, unless he refuses to pay the credit card bill, at which point it becomes the credit card company. Plus, if I charged $30,000 on my credit card in a short period of time, I would have gotten a call from them verifying the charges. Just not buying it. At least with the details given in the report. | ||
| Greenlantern |
The $1,000 a night girls sensing something up played "Halo" on the Xbox with the kids, instead of selling their sexual services. I don't know........ That sounds like sex for a 13 year old to me!!  | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
How does a 13 year old find 1k a night hookers? | ||
| Swordsman |
You'd be surprised what a kid that age, who has grown up with the internet, can find. They're much more clever than parents give them credit for. I have a 6 year old nephew that could probably do it... I know he's found other stuff he shouldn't, since his parents don't monitor his web use (genius of them, I know). The bit about the naming a minor and such IS a bit suspicious. ~SM | ||
| Loki |
I would tend to think, it could be very true. As far as giving the minors' name out? He was being charged as an adult. Which takes him out of the juvie court system. Open season on all info at that point. | ||
| Loki |
As far as who is the victim. Unless the kids name was on the account, it is Identity Theft and CC Fraud. Dollar amount would make it felony charges at that. Just my opinion here though. As I only stayed at a Holiday In Express last night. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I find it hard to believe that the kid's dad would want to press charges in the case. He's 13 and stupid, not 17-18 and a felon. | ||
| Mikej |
All that and they still get to go to Disneyland? | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I think by "Disneyland", dad meant "VEGAS BABY". | ||
| Loki |
I guess it depends on if the old man wants to pony up the $30k to the cc company. He may not want to pursue the possible identity theft, but the CC company can still pursue the fraud. Two victims in this case | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Note to self, hookers playing xbox do not get you arrested for solicitation... | ||
| Dynasport |
I still think this story smells. I still find it hard to believe the CC company's fraud unit wasn't notified about unusual expenses. Heck, my CC cut me off on an Iron Butt run because of multiple gas purchases too close together. Also, I seriously doubt a hotel letting kids check in with a CC and no adult. Loki, I know that if the 13 yo was charged as an adult his identity protection is out the window, I am just skeptical of a DA getting this into adult court. I would be more concerned about the parents being charged with child neglect. Did they not know their kid wasn't home? Didn't someone get a clue. And where did he buy all that stuff and have it delivered? While I suppose this scenario is possible, I find it very unlikely. I find it easier to believe websites post sensational stories to get hits so they can sell advertising. It smacks of the National Enquirer form of journalism to me. | ||
| Rainman |
Hookers, Xbox and Halo: The Ralph Hardy Story, an ABC special movie of the week... | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Dyna, I agree, this story originated out of Europe and not here? Fishy. Texas is a "people" state, charging isn't necessarily up to a DA, it's up to the victim on whether they want to charge. Maybe because this wa sa felony, that could be different, but I don't see a DA charging a 13 year old with an adult felony for a crime against his dad. | ||
| Rainman |
I've contacted the Newark Texas newspaper and hope to get a reply back as to the story's veracity. Interesting that it's not reported in any Texas paper that I can find. | ||
| Dynasport |
Well, I searched the internet for Ralph Hardy and found nothing related to this story, so I did some research on Newark, Texas, learned that it is close to Fort Worth, and went to the Forth Worth Star web site. Again I could find nothing on this story. I also visited the Dallas Morning News web site and again found nothing on this story. I am satisfied this is a baseless story and I have wasted too much time on it. It is an entertaining story line though. The internet, the source of much misinformation. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
The key point here is:"Ralph's ambition is to one day become a politician" Just figures in, don't it. | ||
| Loki |
Yes, it is a really fishy item. The story line is plausible but stretched. Sorry, I slipped back into my alter ego earlier. I have a bad habit that made me an excellent debater in high school. I am good at being the devils' advocate. (Message edited by loki on May 12, 2008) | ||
| Slaughter |
XBox? (OK - was I the only one?) Naaawwww... this is a family site | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Dinner out 1895.00 Hotel room 450/ per nite X Box 1300 Games 2600 Room Service 9689.72 Hookers 2000 Spending 30K on a weekend Warcraft blowout with your best friends for life? :PRICELESS For everything else there is Visa  Whats in your Dad's Wallet? Discover We Reward you Back | ||
| Dynasport |
I know, I said I had wasted too much time on this, but my curiosity got the best of me. I surfed the British web site this article was posted on. A bit odd that the only place I could find anything about this is on a British financial web site. Then I saw the link to this article on the British web site is subtitled "Only in America". See the bottom of this page http://www.money.co.uk/article/ Used to be that "Only in America" referred to America being the land of opportunity. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I still think this story smells. I still find it hard to believe the CC company's fraud unit wasn't notified about unusual expenses. I saw this on Digg the other day, a lot of comments where expressing the same opinion. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
seriously yall are looking at the wrong part that makes this story fictional. how many of you remeber being 13? I remeber being 13 and wanting to hump any thing with 2 leg and a female reproductive organ. do you honestly expect me to belive a 13 year old boy bought a hooker just to play video games? | ||
| Wolf102 |
im with firebolt | ||
| Zane |
At 13?? Are you kidding??? Why would she need both legs? | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
ok ok maybe the legs were optional. but the point being at 13 if I had a $1000 hooker I would have not have been playing video games. at least not for the first 2 minutes or so. | ||
| Zane |
lol... I'm sooooo agreeing with you. At 13, my hormones were raging so badly I couldn't point both eyes in the same direction at the same time...lol | ||
| Dynasport |
I know I was that way, but I have seen some geeky kids lately. The story has other problems that could just be bad reporting that I have not mentioned. They include quoting the dad, but not giving his name, and no quote or even the mention of an attempt of one from law enforcement of the the prosecutor's office. Actually, not really a quote from anyone, just stuff like X said... I'd still like to hear what Rainman found out. |
