Exactly this. Kid? At 22? I left home at 17, and knew full well when I was doing wrong before that. He is an adult, and the sooner he is treated as one, the sooner he might straighten out. Definitely tell the parents. If the parents come back with, "Mind your own @$!%ng business!" then I would inform the police.

I don't know, I'm 27 but for a lot of major decisions in my life, "what would mom and dad say about this" has been a factor.

The the police is who should be told.

I'm not sure of your point, without tone it doesn't come across at all.

People can become even more concerned to win their parents approval as they grow through adulthood.

When I think of the things I've done as an adult that I'm least proud of then I wouldn't want to tell my parents about them.

As a child with no experience you've got an excuse for your mistakes. As an adult choosing to scam people the only places you've got to hide seem to be anonymity and sociopathy.