Booted from server then says account permanently banned!

Lumenn

So ps (and one PC so far) EU? Has anyone seen an official response? Wonder why it's hitting console so hard. Might they be testing a new anti-bot program or just the "luck" of the draw?

Wolfkeks

wilykcat wrote: »

Customer support website?

Looking at the other thread

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/discussion/640196/auto-ban

it seems like the website has problems with the appeal process as people can't proceed further than a few questions. Seems like a system problem.

ZOS_GinaBruno

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we will follow up after investigations are complete.

DragonRacer

Wolfkeks wrote: »

wilykcat wrote: »

Customer support website?

Looking at the other thread

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/discussion/640196/auto-ban

it seems like the website has problems with the appeal process as people can't proceed further than a few questions. Seems like a system problem.

Remember that the forum is a relatively small number of players. There’s already an inordinately large number reporting in this thread that they have been erroneously banned.

I’m willing to bet the number of folks in the same boat who do not post here is LARGE and if they are all hitting that support/appeals website right now, it may be stressing under the load and that’s why it constantly spins.

Or it’s broken.

Katheriah

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we will follow up after investigations are complete.

Interesting, thanks for the update.

Looking at the numbers I expected an 'We did an oopsie and we're reverting the bans', but it sounds like it might actually be on purpose.

SerafinaWaterstar

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we will follow up after investigations are complete.

Sorry but there can't be this many people affected for an ‘in-game exploit’. Its all over twitter/X and reddit too. Not to mention all those who can’t actually log in to the forums.

Never done an ‘exploit’ as far as I am aware. (Or does jumping in the water in FG1 count? Yes pathetic attempt at humour when very stressed).

I am really upset, angry and deeply concerned about my account.

And also eso+ renewal went through today so not happy about paying for something I can’t use.

a_u_s_t_y

Sounds like most ps4 eu players have had this issue.. can’t be legitimate bans surely… really intrigued to know what’s caused this

Endinger

Over 30 players which i know are banned. Some just for fishing some questing, some im vaa...
Must be a bug, no cheating on PS.

Lumenn

I'm wondering what in game exploit is EU (and mostly ps from what I'm seeing) specific? What code did you people break?!? You NEVER divide by zero!

All jokes aside I'm hoping it gets fixed quickly for you all and corrected before it spreads to all servers.

p00tx

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we will follow up after investigations are complete.

Respectfully, it might be worth exploring whether it's necessarily helpful to suspend/ban people until Zos knows for sure these players were knowingly participating in the exploit in question. I obviously don't know all of the details, but from my perspective, it seems like immediate bans are a little extreme, and this has been the case for a lot of recent issues. The ToS change so often, and are only made initially visible via a painfully long and convoluted message that most players quickly click past without reading (understandably since most of it is in a "language" the average person isn't well versed in reading). Punitive measures should only be taken after a player is individually verbally warned and refuses to comply rather than as an initial measure.

#freeZanshii

msetten

In my guild there have also been several members banned and they have absolutely no idea what they did wrong. And those are long time players who have always been playing normal. One got banned while in a random dungeon, others while just questing. And a lot of them are not in these forums. All PS4 and PS5 on EU server. Some even got perma bans immediately without any temporary bans. Seems something is really wrong.

Please investigate this not as if it are just separate players issues, but find the root cause of why all these people are getting bans all of a sudden.

redspecter23

It really sucks to be falsely accused of something and punished for it.

I get that there is a potentially big exploit here that needs to be fixed, but remember that first line. Before going ahead and banning players, consider there are real human beings on the other side. People that have potentially done nothing wrong at all. Imagine how that makes someone feel to have a hobby they enjoy ripped away from them when they haven't done anything wrong. Worse than that, they aren't even being told what they are being accused of and have no way to defend themselves.

This is more than just a business decision. It has an impact on real people.

Coffeebug

If this is over an exploit, couldn't you have just fixed the exploit, then investigated, and *then* just punished the people who actually did something wrong? Isn't that usually how justice works? Rather than booting and upsetting loads of people who don't know why they're being treated like this?

msetten

One additional observation: could it be that cheat rules are triggered due to the current event and people doing lots of world bosses in a circle in Craglorn to collect event boxes? This could be interpreted by some code as a farm bot maybe?

If that is the case, an awful lot of players are collecting event boxes that way. And since the event is for playing world bosses, it should not be dealt with as a bot doing it.

wilykcat

Maybe it's a bug with the new bot detection/anti-cheat software?

Troodon80

This is the same sort of thing which happened to a bunch of people a few years ago (ZOS were investigating crown sales and "black market activities," brought down the ban-hammer and then decided to do an investigation). Then a similar issue where ZOS falsely accused a bunch of people of duplicating gold. The latter got a public apology and a pick of any house, mount, or pet they wanted (even exclusive stuff which is likely to never return). The former, however, got a "We're pleased to say that, after an investigation, you have been deemed to have not cheated. Happy adventuring!" I was one of the former, by the way. Never did get any sort of apology.

Quite frankly, it's a disgrace that this is still allowed to happen. Down comes the ban-hammer and then it's up to people to pick up the pieces and try to defend themselves. This on the tail end of all the login problems over the weekend only compounds the issue for Playstation players. What, if anything, does ZOS plan to do to compensate the people unfairly and wrongfully banned? You did it for one lot of people after the gold duplication bans were unfounded. Seems fitting that you do it here, too.

sarahthes

Coffeebug wrote: »

If this is over an exploit, couldn't you have just fixed the exploit, then investigated, and *then* just punished the people who actually did something wrong? Isn't that usually how justice works? Rather than booting and upsetting loads of people who don't know why they're being treated like this?

It's possible the exploit was fixed already and now they're going thru everyone flagged as having possibly benefitted from it, and will unban anyone who was clearly accidental.

SerafinaWaterstar

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we will follow up after investigations are complete.

And just to add that the message when I try to log in does not say “temporary ban” but “permanently banned”.

Its only the “support” auto email that says is under investigation. And says it can take WEEKS to do this.

msetten

sarahthes wrote: »

It's possible the exploit was fixed already and now they're going thru everyone flagged as having possibly benefitted from it, and will unban anyone who was clearly accidental.

If that it the case, ZOS should communicate this here immediately. Last weekend should have made it clear that clear and fast communication is essential for good customer support.

TruthSeeker

Lumenn wrote: »

I'm wondering what in game exploit is EU (and mostly ps from what I'm seeing) specific? What code did you people break?!? You NEVER divide by zero!

All jokes aside I'm hoping it gets fixed quickly for you all and corrected before it spreads to all servers.

Thank you, Lumenn.

I have definitely not exploited anything and am sufficiently disgusted by this high-handed, dictatorial behaviour by ZOS that unless it is fixed (and apologised for) very quickly I will think myself well shot of the game.

TruthSeeker

msetten wrote: »

One additional observation: could it be that cheat rules are triggered due to the current event and people doing lots of world bosses in a circle in Craglorn to collect event boxes? This could be interpreted by some code as a farm bot maybe?

If that is the case, an awful lot of players are collecting event boxes that way. And since the event is for playing world bosses, it should not be dealt with as a bot doing it.

None of my 38 characters have even done the starter for the current event, nor gone anywhere near group bosses. They pick up crafting email attachments and toxin satchels, plus my new character completes her daily riding lesson and crafting Writs and completes any daily endeavours which she doesn't find repugnant (she does not steal or assassinate, and all my Characters avoid pvp).

wilykcat

Getting banned without a clear reason.. it hasn't happened to me on Elderscrolls yet *knocks on wood*.

To me this mystery ban issue looks like something similar I went through on wow.

A few years ago, I once got temporarily banned for 30 days on World of Warcraft without a clear reason. It took me two weeks to go through the writing questions to Blizzard customer support and recieving an answer process. Turns out the bot/cheat/afk detection system for pvp made an error during a ban wave in WoW. They later fixed it.

Surak73

I knew I had better not pickpocket the 125 people for the weekly endeavor and that there would have been consequences lol....

SerafinaWaterstar

Have seen much discussion on Discords as to what this might be.

And if it is what is suggested, then I know I did not do it, but it appears they have used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Which is not the best way to keep customer satisfaction.

DragonRacer

What’s really awful with this is if a bunch of innocent players got banned for no reason other than a system error (which it sounds like when you take posters here at face value), you’ve just stolen away the rest of the Zeal of Zenithar event and/or longer from them.

And if any are guild GMs or officers, then there is complete and total panic mode to keep guilds functioning/funds raised/trader bids placed.

To potentially innocent players.

(I’ll be honest, there are times such as these where I get deathly nervous of being banned because I moved a furnishing too many times or something stupid and set off a thing, then what do I and my guild do during however long an appeal process? For doing nothing wrong? It’s also why I keep banging the “please clarify” drum in the Crown Crates thread that’s just being ignored at this point.)

a_u_s_t_y

Katheriah wrote: »

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

We can confirm a number of accounts were recently suspended temporarily while we investigate a recent in-game exploit. As mentioned in the email from our Support Team, we

SerafinaWaterstar wrote: »

Have seen much discussion on Discords as to what this might be.

And if it is what is suggested, then I know I did not do it, but it appears they have used a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Which is not the best way to keep customer satisfaction.

I got the ban, I did some pvp but barely any, a world boss (in high isle and the rift ) and a jewellery writ and a mage guild daily (farming for sea serpents coil) then bam - banned

So I guess playing the game normally is against the rules now?

a_u_s_t_y

I got the ban, I did some pvp but barely any, a world boss (in high isle and the rift ) and a jewellery writ and a mage guild daily (farming for sea serpents coil) then bam - banned

So I guess playing the game normally is against the rules now?

wilykcat

It snot against the rules to play the game.

It's most likely some kind of software glitch .

SeaGtGruff

If they're investigating "a recent in-game exploit," they are unlikely to offer any information about what triggered the ban until they've finished their investigation, as any information they give out might reveal the nature of the exploit. And even after they patch the game to prevent a given exploit from recurring, they don't often say much about what the exploit was, as that could lead to players trying to figure out similar exploits.

All I know is, when I come to the forums and see these kinds of threads, it makes me afraid to try to log into the game for fear that I might find myself "erroneously auto-banned" as well. Yikes! o_O

sarahthes

Usually the activity they're investigating was performed at an earlier date. They just handle it all at once rather than piecemeal.