Sugar Rush: Kentucky Boy Orders $4,000 in Lollipops from Mom's Phone
A Kentucky mom was surprised to find her son ordered 70,000 lollipops from Amazon. Here's how to ensure a similar oopsie doesn't happen to you.


Talk about a sweet surprise: A Kentucky mom, Holly LaFavers, made the startling discovery that her son ordered 70,000 Dum-Dum suckers from Amazon while he was playing on her phone.
By the time she found out about it, it was too late to stop the order. So, in a scene that would make Buddy the Elf squeal in joy, boxes of sugary treats arrived on her doorstep.
"He told me that he wanted to have a carnival, and he was ordering the Dum-Dums as prizes for his carnival," LaFavers told CBS News. "Again, he was being friendly, he was being kind to his friends."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Kids have all the best ideas, don't they?
How Amazon handled the sweet return
Her initial shock about the order grew when she found out this sugar party was costing her upwards of $4,000.
Thankfully for her and her bank account, Amazon plans to refund the entire order, according to WKYT. This came after she spent a day on the phone with her bank and being interviewed by local TV stations.
Even more amazing, Amazon didn't want the suckers back. So, Holly is taking a cue from her son and plans to donate these sugary treats.
How do you prevent kids from ordering on your Amazon?
If you have kids or grandkids, you know how much they like to play on devices like your phone or tablet. So, it's important you set parental controls or else, you could wake up to a toy store or candy shop on your doorstep.
Amazon makes it simple to set up controls on their app. Here's how it works:
- Log into your Amazon account on your device's app
- Access settings
- Select parental controls
- Tap "Enable parental controls"
- The app will request your password again to verify
Once set up, you'll need to enter your password anytime you want to purchase an item. Make sure to set a password that isn't easy to guess or you could be looking at a sugary surprise arriving on your doorstep.
Related content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Sean is a veteran personal finance writer, with over 10 years of experience. He's written finance guides on insurance, savings, travel and more for CNET, Bankrate and GOBankingRates.
-
Social Security Will Continue Sending Paper Checks Sparingly, Reversing Course
The Social Security Administration has backed off from plans to eliminate paper checks. However, it will only send checks in the mail as a matter of last resort.
-
Ask the Editor — Tax Questions on Four New Tax Deductions
Ask the Editor In this week's Ask the Editor Q&A, we answer tax questions from readers on four new tax deductions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
-
The Five Best Side Hustles for Retirees
More older people are working in retirement to boost income and stave off boredom. These gigs and hustles make the most sense for the golden years crowd.
-
Apple Rolls Out AppleCare One to Simplify and Expand Device Protection
Apple's new multi-device plan brings extended coverage, theft protection and the ability to insure older gadgets.
-
TSA’s New Family Lanes Aim to Take the Stress Out of Summer Travel
The “Families on the Fly” campaign introduces family-friendly security lanes and discounted TSA PreCheck fees — just in time for peak travel season.
-
From Piggy Banks to Portfolios: A Financial Planner's Guide to Talking to Your Kids About Money at Every Age
From toddlers to young adults, all kids can benefit from open conversations with their parents about spending and saving. Here's what to talk about — and when.
-
Retirement in the Age of Cyber Scams: How To Protect Your Next Chapter
Retirement is meant to be a time of relaxation and living life on your terms. But for many retirees, this dream is under threat from a growing epidemic — cyber scams.
-
Heat Wave in Europe: What Every Traveler Needs to Know
Record-breaking summer temperatures, wildfires, and travel disruptions — they’re reshaping summer 2025 trips. Here’s how to stay safe, prepared and savvy.
-
You'll Kick Yourself in the Fall if You Don't Make This Savings Move Now
Inflation will likely prevent the Fed from cutting rates until the fall. However, does a long-term CD provide enough of a return to outpace climbing prices?
-
Spot Heat Exhaustion in Your Pet Before It Costs Them — and You
Heat strokes aren't just for humans. The signs of heat exhaustion in pets can be harder to spot, but just as deadly.