My friend used VPN :: Help and Tips

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ugh 2 Jun 27, 2017 @ 3:37am

My friend used VPN

Hello! My friend used VPN to buy a game cheaper. I told him not to do it, cuz its in the rules, that he will get a ban. Now he worries (what an idiot) that he will get a ban. He said he got the cooldown (he's not able to change countries for 2 days), and asked me when will he get the ban (after the cooldown/in the cooldown). He said he can play his games, everything works fine. So the question is: when he will get the ban? (Sorry for my english)

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Showing 1-14 of 14 comments

Pcnuttie Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:10am

Just don't use the VPN.

ugh 2 Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:17am

Originally posted by Kal-El:
Just don't use the VPN.

I agree. It's his fault, I told him not to do it. He put like 23 dollars into his account, and now he will lose it.

baleihouzi Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:17am

i cant play with my friend

J4MESOX4D Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:23am

Originally posted by ninjON:
Originally posted by Kal-El:
Just don't use the VPN.
I agree. It's his fault, I told him not to do it. He put like 23 dollars into his account, and now he will lose it.

His account will probably be terminated. Region-rigging to obtain goods cheaper is a severe SSA violation.

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/
"You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account."

Last edited by J4MESOX4D; Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:23am

ugh 2 Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:35am

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
Originally posted by ninjON:
I agree. It's his fault, I told him not to do it. He put like 23 dollars into his account, and now he will lose it.
His account will probably be terminated. Region-rigging to obtain goods cheaper is a severe SSA violation.

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/
"You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account."

I heard people did this and they didn't got banned. Valve may not recognise it, or what?

Last edited by ugh 2; Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:36am

J4MESOX4D Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:37am

Originally posted by ninjON:
Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
His account will probably be terminated. Region-rigging to obtain goods cheaper is a severe SSA violation.

http://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/
"You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account."
I heard people did this and they didn't got banned. Valva may not recognise it, or what?

Valve will be alerted to this. I've already seen a level 96 user have his account permanently suspended because he used a VPN to activate a region restricted game bought elsewhere. Circumventing the restrictions to bypass regional pricing is even more serious as it is bordering on fraud. Valve will definitely know about it and your friend must simply wait for the consequences.

ugh 2 Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:44am

Thanks!:)

Ogami Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:48am

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
. I've already seen a level 96 user have his account permanently suspended because he used a VPN to activate a region restricted game bought elsewhere.

Yeah, i HIGHLY doubt that. There is not a single known case so far of someone getting his account suspended just for activating a game with a VPN.
For buying games from another regions store? Yes there was a case here and there. But only because that is fraud.
Steam cant even recognize if someone uses a VPN just for activation.
Also they would need to proof that you were not in that country at the time.
Good luck with that.

Edit: @ OP Also you are a great "friend". First thing you do is run to the forums to snitch your friend out. Class act. With friends like you nobody needs any enemies.

Last edited by Ogami; Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:52am

Discussions_Acc Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:49am

How? That shouldn't be possible anymore for quite a while now.
Your region is bound to your account, not your IP. I could VPN all I want, I'd still get the prices of my region.

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
I've already seen a level 96 user have his account permanently suspended because he used a VPN to activate a region restricted game bought elsewhere.

I'd like some proof here.

Last edited by Discussions_Acc; Jun 27, 2017 @ 4:49am

J4MESOX4D Jun 27, 2017 @ 5:02am

Originally posted by Ogami:
Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
. I've already seen a level 96 user have his account permanently suspended because he used a VPN to activate a region restricted game bought elsewhere.

Yeah, i HIGHLY doubt that. There is not a single known case so far of someone getting his account suspended just for activating a game with a VPN.
For buying games from another regions store? Yes there was a case here and there. But only because that is fraud.
Steam cant even recognize if someone uses a VPN just for activation.
Also they would need to proof that you were not in that country at the time.
Good luck with that.

Edit: @ OP Also you are a great "friend". First thing you do is run to the forums to snitch your friend out. Class act. With friends like you nobody needs any enemies.

The person was on my friends list at the time. He bought H1Z1 off eBay for £7.49 and received a RU key as a gift. He used a VPN to bypass the restriction and activate the game on his account and two days later he received a message that his account has been terminated for violations of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. This is also outlined in #4 so whether you believe it or not is completely irrelevent.

I'm also pretty sure a global company like Valve could easily determine such things just like any other which has region-based pricing lol!

#10

Ogami Jun 27, 2017 @ 5:09am

Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
his account has been terminated for violations of the Steam Subscriber Agreement.

That does not mean it was for the VPN activation. Account termination is usually only for the biggest violations like active credit card fraud or trade scamming in a big way.
Even the accounts who got suspended for buying games with VPN from other countries stores still only got "suspended". Meaning they can still access all their games and play them, they just cant buy or activate any new ones.
There is absolutly no evidence that the activation of that game with VPN and the termination are related.

I know dozens of users who activated hundreds of games with VPN on their accounts. Why are they not banned if Steam can detect it?

Last edited by Ogami; Jun 27, 2017 @ 5:09am

#11

J4MESOX4D Jun 27, 2017 @ 5:15am

Originally posted by Ogami:
Originally posted by J4MESOX4D:
his account has been terminated for violations of the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
That does not mean it was for the VPN activation. Account termination is usually only for the biggest violations like active credit card fraud or trade scamming in a big way

and as mentioned in the SSA; circumventing regional resitrctions for the likes of purchasing CAN result in account termination. You cannot backseat moderate this factor based on your own opinion on the matter. Some people get a trade ban for scamming and others see their accounts locked - behaviour that violates the SSA shouldn't be encoraged and/or brushed off as harmless based off a few instances you've seen previous. People should be open to expect the worst for breaking such rules especially when the penalities are clearly outlined and personal opinion of random forum members goes out the window.

#12