Account Temporarily Suspended - Confused?

#0 - Nov. 25, 2009, 5:16 p.m.
Blizzard Post
So I woke up this morning to two emails. The first is as follows:
Q u o t e:
Battle.net Account - Password Reset

We have reset the password for the Battle.net account associated with this email address. To choose a new password, please click the following link and follow the instructions:

https://us.battle.net/account/support/password-reset-confirm.xml?*bunch of random letters and stuff here*

If you did not request the reset, it is possible that this Battle.net account has been accessed by someone not authorized to do so. If you notice issues with the Battle.net account or associated games after logging in with your new password, please contact the appropriate support department for assistance immediately: http://us.blizzard.com/support/index.xml?gameId=11

Please remember that it is your responsibility to keep your login information confidential. You may not share access to the account with anyone who is not expressly permitted in the Battle.net Terms of Use and the Terms of Use for the games you play. You are also responsible for every use of your login information, whether you have authorized it or not.

Billing and Account Services can be reached directly at 1-800-592-5499. Players in Australia and Singapore should call 1-800-041-378 and 800-2549927 respectively if unable to connect via the first number. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Pacific Time.

We encourage you to keep the following security tips in mind when playing an online game on any computer:

- Use up-to-date firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware software, and scan your system regularly for viruses, Trojans, and key loggers.
- Keep your operating system and other software up-to-date, and be careful when downloading new software.
- Be wary of “spoof” and scam websites and e-mails that pose as Blizzard Entertainment and request account or personal information. As a reminder, Blizzard Entertainment representatives will *never* ask you for your password.
- Use separate, unique passwords for your email, Battle.net account, and any other online accounts.
- Change your passwords regularly and keep Battle.net account information updated using the Account Management page at http://www.battle.net/account

For additional security tips and information, please visit the following site:

- Account Security: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=26328

If you are looking for an added layer of security, we currently offer the Authenticator, an optional second line of defense that can help prevent unauthorized account access. For more information about how the Authenticator works or how to add one to an account, please visit the Authenticator Information page at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/24986.

Thank you,

Blizzard Entertainment


The second was this:

Q u o t e:
English speaking customers: Please refer to the start of this mail
Para los clientes españoles: Por favor vayan hasta el fin de este correo electrónico

Account Name: *********

Account Action: 72 Hour Suspension
Reason for Action: Terms of Use Violation -- Exploitative Activity: Abuse of the Economy

This suspension happened because one or more characters on the account were identified exchanging, or contributing to the exchange of, in-game property (items or gold) for "real-world" currency. This exchange process negatively impacts the World of Warcraft game environment by detracting from the value of the in-game economy.

Even if this behavior is the result of a third party accessing the account instead of the registered user (for example, a friend, family member, or leveling service) then the account can still be held responsible for the penalty because of the impact it had on the game environment.

We've found the above behavior is many times directly related to groups responsible for compromising World of Warcraft accounts; we take these issues very seriously. To better understand our position against exploitative activity and the risks involved, please review this article: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/basics/antigold.html

The exploitative activity that took place on this account violates the World of Warcraft Terms of Use. We ask you take a moment to review these terms at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html. Note that additional Terms of Use violations may result in more severe actions against this account, up to and including permanent closure.

For any disputes of this action, please visit the Exploitative Activity FAQ and Contact page here: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/exploitfaq

Regards,
Blizzard Entertainment Support


The account that this refers to is NOT this account, but the other account linked to the same battle.net account.

I have not bought any gold or done anything that violates the terms of use. I am assuming my account got hacked or something but I have no way of checking now either, because I can't log in. Bleh. What are my options at this point? Pretty frustrated... and I know, get an authenticator.
#4 - Nov. 26, 2009, 8:41 p.m.
Blizzard Post
There is definite exploitative, malicious, access here, Hondarally.

You need to find your security breach first and foremost or this WILL happen again, that - unfortunately, you can count on.

It's not as much a matter of blame, as responsibility. There is no way we can secure your system for you, nor keep your password safe if it's been shared.

First step is finding the breach. Often this can be malware on your system (or any system that has been used) or a compromised email. I highly recommend deep security sweeps and also changing your email password once you are certain your system is secure.

We've also seen an increase of reports lately about malware that likes to hide from scanners unless the launcher is active. To test for that, fire up the launcher, put in some random something into account name, run your scanner while that is open.

These stickies should prove useful.

Computer Security Recommendations
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=1778038509&sid=1

Account Compromise Info Center
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=14318909866&sid=1

You may also want to look into getting an authenticator for your account. It's no substitute for good security habits, but it will keep anyone else out of your WoW account.

Blizzard Store
http://us.blizzard.com/store/browse.xml?f=c:6

Mobile Authenticator
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?locale=en_US&articleId=26109

I do wish you all the very best on a speedy recovery.