Mom steals $5K from her son's bank account to buy MLM products, family criticizes son for calling the police on her: 'I'd been saving money because my dog needs liver surgery'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
May 8, 2025 8:00 AM EDT

Multi-level marketing schemes are designed to sell you a lie. Sure, special candles you plug in, makeup, or Tupperware might not be faulty products, and you can easily understand why someone would want to buy them. The lie doesn't lie in the products being bad. The lie lies in the idea that selling makeup door to door will be the key to financial independence. It's the same lie sold to young moms about making tons of money as an Instagram or TikTok influencer. It's like having a job without actually having a job! Most of us who grew up around women in pyramid schemes or who have gotten messages from high school acquaintances trying to rope you into one know that you're going to lose more money than you make with pyramid schemes. That won't stop thousands of underemployed people from giving it the old college try. What's the worst thing that could happen?

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  • 01

    AITA for pressing charges against my mom for stealing money from my dog’s surgery fund?

    Am I the ah le here? My entire family is calling me selfish and greedy for doing this. This all came to a head yesterday but some back story, my mom decided to use my shared account (she has her own card but it's my name on the account) with her to buy over $5k in products for Avon because she
    via u/Dickcystmcgee

  • The son in this story is suffering because his mother decided to start selling Avon. She didn't just decide to waste her own money; she decided to steal from her son's dog's surgery fund to fund this career change. Talk about multiple levels of scamming…

  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10502823424
    via Rosa Rafael

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 03
    believes it's going to change her life... this is a Latino household and for the longest I've given her access to my account because sometimes I help with bills and what have you. But I've been saving money because my dog needs a liver shunt surgery, scans and recovery meds. She took it upon herself to take the money and won't give it back, my entire
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10502823936
    via Matt Bango (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 05
    family is calling me crazy for prioritizing my dog over my mom. This came to a head when I called the police about it... they said it's a civil issue but my family HATES ' Me now. My little brother said I'm a huge ah_le.
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10502822912
    via Fellipe Ditadi (Unsplash+)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 07
    Forsaken-Sink3345 JFC no. NTA. Parental theft of money is NOT OK. It happens so often and kids just take that kind of ab on the chin. e
    via u/Forsaken-Sink3345
  • 08
    Dickcystmcgee OP Thanks dude. I listened to all the feedback I just feel like sh now but I know it's not on me right. It can't
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 09
    Forsaken-Sink3345 You HAVE TO feel like sh. If you didn't feel like sh, you'd be a person, too. Feeling like sh isn't a bug, it's a feature. It proves you have a heart.
    via u/Forsaken-Sink3345
  • 10
    wickybasket She prioritized STEALING from you for COSMETICS, over a living thing. Get mad.
    via u/wickybasket
  • 11
    fleet_and_flotilla tell your brother that if the money isn't a big deal, he can cough up the 5k your mother stole. see how quickly he changes his tune, or how quickly he tries to change the subject
    via u/fleet_and_flotilla
  • 12
    mintypetal437 no bc same, it's always like "but that's your mom/dad" and i'm like ok? that doesn't mean they get a free pass to wreck your life. took me YEARS to stop brushing stuff off just bc it came from "family."
    via u/mintypetal437
  • 13
    Neppetaa NTA. she didn't put any money into it, and it was being saved for something life saving. it's not like she used it for bills, food, or something medical for herself, she used it on what's likely an MLM. she's selfish, and a thief
    via u/Neppetaa
  • 14
    Cpt_plainguy Not likely a MLM, it 100% is an MLM. There is a reason Avon isn't as big as it once was. Most people wised up to the shenanigans
    via u/Cpt_plainguy
  • 15
    OniyaMCD Yep, Avon, Tupperware and Amway are all cut from the same business model. Get unsophisticated housewives to do all your marketing for you, and charge them for the privilege.
    via u/OniyaMCD
  • 16
    valkyrieway So wait ― your family says that you're prioritizing your d ng dog over your mom WHO BOUGHT $5,000 WORTH OF AVON CR_P?? Avon products are not a NEED. I would be livid, and I'd probably be willing to lose my family over it. NTA
    via u/valkyrieway
  • 17
    Dickcystmcgee OP She's really really good at convincing them basically anything, I'm the only one who's moved out so far so I've learned a lot on the outsid, like my cousins and younger sibling don't speak English at all, everyone in the house (13 of them) are all super tight and she's the rule maker so they're super psisswd I called the police(also cops are hated in my hood)
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 18
    n2oc10h12c8h10n402 Sounds like a cult. Sorry if this is super disrespectful. But it does.
    via u/n2oc10h12c8h10n402
  • 19
    Dickcystmcgee OP Yeh I see your point, it's not uncommon in Latino families though
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 20
    n2oc10h12c8h10n402 I'm from South America and it's almost like you're describing my dad's mom. 70% of my family went no contact, myself included.
    via u/n2oc10h12c8h10n402
  • 21
    AngelaVNO You may have already done this, but if not, open a new account at a different bank (not branch, different company) and don't give anyone access.
    via u/AngelaVNO
  • 22
    Jovon35 NTA. Let's call it what it is...theft. She STOLE $5000 from you for some Avon products. Not for food, or a new roof, or to replumb the entire house because there's a leak under the house and all of the corroded pipes need to be replaced. She told it for Avon!!??
    via u/Jovon35
  • 23
    Even if there had been an actual household emergency or family emergency that would have been a worthwhile investment, she should never have taken that money without your consent. Please file against her for small claims court and for god sakes take her name and information off of any accounts that you currently have shared with her. Good luck!
    via u/Jovon35
  • 24
    Dickcystmcgee OP Yeh she's been removed no longer can ever touch my money again.
    via u/Dickcystmcgee
  • 25
    No-To-Newspeak Good. Going forward never lend any family members money, regardless of their sob story, and never cosign for anyone's loan/mortgage/lease etc.
    via u/No-To-Newspeak

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family drama dogs mlm saving money mother bad parents parenting multi level marketing bank account family mom theft savings money Parenting Fail
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