Players of the mobile game Pokémon Go are reportedly facing bans for obtaining rare creatures through questlines acquired in an "unauthorized manner." This action appears to confirm long-standing player speculation about a black market for fraudulently acquiring in-game species.
Last year, discussions on platforms like Reddit's TheSilphRoad highlighted growing evidence of players selling rare Pokémon that seemed impossible to legitimately obtain. These often included multiple copies of unique creatures or species released years prior, housed in unavailable Pokéball types, with prices reportedly reaching hundreds of dollars. Such sales violate Pokémon Go's terms of service, but a more concerning issue surfaced: the method by which these Pokémon were obtained. Known as "injecting," this practice allows accounts to receive questlines they did not legitimately unlock, leading most players to believe it requires hacking the game's servers or privileged access from developers.
While screenshots shared by alleged sellers have claimed contact with Pokémon Go development team members, these claims remain unverifiable. This assertion could also serve as a cover for their own hacking activities. Reports indicate that previous attempts to seek comment from developer Scopely Explore (formerly Niantic Games) have gone unanswered.
The current wave of bans for receiving special research through unauthorized means suggests that this "injecting" loophole has indeed been exploited. The specific reasons for action being taken now, and whether the exploit has been closed, remain unclear.
For those who profited from this illicit process, the reported punishments appear relatively lenient. Ban notices suggest a 30-day suspension from the game, with a warning that further violations could result in additional sanctions. The notice states, "We have confirmed that you have received Special Research in an unauthorized manner, violating Pokémon Go Terms of Service and Player Guidelines. We take fairness seriously at Scopely Explore, and hence, your account has been temporarily suspended for 30 days. Further violations may result in additional sanctions against your account, including a permanent termination."