My son, 17, is scamming people online and it disgusts me. People tell me to call the police, but will this ruin his future?

A woman revealed she is ‘disgusted’ with her son after discovering he is scamming people online.

On British parenting platform Mumsnet, the mother explained that her 17-year-old has “done all the wrong things a teenager can do” and is “acting like an asshole.”

She later revealed in the comments that her son was selling items, such as headphones, that he doesn’t have, claiming she doesn’t know how to deal with him.

Opinions were divided, but many suggested she should call the police on her son.

The mail read: ‘I don’t know how to deal with this. Ds scams people online. The backstory is that we don’t give him money anymore because of a lot of ultimatums about weed.

‘Last week he showed how he found a way to make money. I knew it would be something dodgy and he had sold something online that he didn’t need to sell.

‘I told him how disgusted I was, how he’s acting like an asshole etc. At first he didn’t care but then he said he knew it was wrong and he wouldn’t do it again. And now he has.

‘I’m so disappointed. I’m ashamed of how he’s developing. He seems to have no morals.

‘Everything a teenager could do wrong, he did. Graffiti, shoplifting, excessive pot smoking and now this. I give up.’

Many rushed to the comments to say she should teach him a lesson by calling the police.

One person wrote: ‘You KNOW the right thing to do for your son, and for the people he has now stolen from, is to call the police.

“Get him off this path NOW while he’s still young. Otherwise he will get lost in a life of crime and prison. If it’s not worse.’

Another said: ‘I would tell him to give the money back straight away and see proof of the refund.

‘If you don’t do it within 24 hours, you go to the police and do it. I know it’s hard, but he really needs to learn the consequences.

‘I sympathize with you, I have been in a not very different position and they really need to learn from right from wrong.

Someone else said: ‘Another one for calling the police. This is outright fraud. It might teach him a lesson.”

A fourth said: ‘He hasn’t found “a way to make money” – he’s committing fraud, committing crime and being a criminal. He will be discovered.’

However, others had a different opinion and said they could not report their own child.

“I wouldn’t report him to the police – if he were to be prosecuted – it could affect his life for years and stop him from doing things in the future – if he made a mistake at 17,” said one. “I might be able to make him believe that I would do it, but it depends on how effective it can be.”

“My brother had the same thing, there’s no point in calling the police,” wrote another. ‘My brother was arrested dozens of times and did not receive a real prison sentence until he was thirty. My poor mother is beside herself with him, but you can’t physically control a young, strong, angry man or stop him from making bad decisions. I don’t know what the answer is.’

Others suggested other ways to punish the teen without calling the police.

‘I don’t really know what to say. I would also be shocked if a child of mine took advantage of those who are probably more vulnerable than him for a few quid,” said one.

‘He didn’t want to get anything from me and I would ask the police to come and talk to him, and also talk to the council about it.

‘Until there is a consequence, absolutely nothing will change and he will at some point sound the death knell on what sounds like it could have been a brilliant life.

“However, I would offer to pay for him to attend counseling (paid directly to them and never through him).”

One person said: ‘Take his phone away. Remove his access to the internet. Close his bank account.

‘Guard him and only give him a door key when he has permission to go outside. These are all privileges that he must earn back by exhibiting changed behavior.

“He must give back the money he defrauded. Don’t drop the rope. Keep talking to him.’

Another said: ‘My advice is to start over, it’s not too late. I’ve been where you are and it’s possible.

‘Be clear about your consequences and boundaries. If he is caught, remind him of the criminal record he will receive.

‘Give him some money if you can afford it, or suggest he get a part-time job. Not giving him money hasn’t worked. It can make people feel powerless.

“Try to give lots of positive praise for doing things well, just like when he was younger.” No matter what you are, you always want compliments and approval from people you appreciate.”

Another said: ‘How does he have access to the internet, phone, laptop etc? Can you delete his devices or remove the internet and stop paying for his data? Can you encourage him to get a job instead of scamming people? Could he make money from you by doing odd jobs?’