It certainly seems like two children in Michigan will be having a very merry Christmas this year after Santa dropped off everything they wanted - and it was no coincidence.
Veronica Estell was shocked, to say the least, when UPS left at least $400 worth of toys at her doorstep. She was met with piles and piles of boxes, without having an inkling as to what was inside of them.
The mom thought that the gifts had been sent over by a generous, and possibly over-zealous relative. After all, she does have a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old at home. But that's when were kids confessed to their crime: they were the ones who ordered themselves the gifts. How? Through Amazon's Alexa.
By simply to the smart home assistant, the kids ordered themselves toys galore, including a Barbie Dreamhouse, dolls and PJ Masks figurines.
Obviously, Veronica was none too pleased, but still has a lot to be thankful for this season. Amazon has agreed to refund her money, and she doesn't even have to return the toys! Now that's what we call a win-win.
How to kid-proof your Amazon smart home device
Incidents like this one are actually shockingly common. While it might be a good idea year-round, it's especially crucial around the holiday season to either turn off or set a code to Voice Purchasing.
To disable the feature, quite simply click the menu and select "Settings." Then, click on "Alexa Account," and then toggle "Purchase by Voice" off.
Alternatively you can also select a 4-digit code on the same page.
Following the incident, Amazon strongly encourages users to enable Amazon mobile notifications, so they will be alerted to a purchase and can review the totals from their phone.
Alexa can help you out this holiday season
Sure, Alexa can make packages and gifts arrive to your home as if by magic, but do you know what else she can do? Change the subject.
Avoid holiday arguments with friends, family, and extended family by enabling this handy feature. When prompted, Alexa will ask a random questions that's sure to stop the bickering.
Alexa is certainly something to be thankful for this holiday season.
