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Botter reported in July - never got banned?

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Pekti
#0 - Sept. 2, 2010, 4:30 p.m.
Blizzard Post
Hello, CSF!

I know that when we report botters and BG AFKers and all that stuff we are never given the followup information on them (ie, their punishment or the outcome of the investigation). Back in July, I reported a guy for botting in Sholazar Basin. I watched him for about three weeks (I was out there every day doing my dailies, etc.). I added him to my friends list in order to "monitor" him. Later on, I saw him in Dalaran on his lovely bear mount, hopping around like a normal player. A few days later, he appeared back in Sholazar where he continued to bot for a week or so. Since then, I have not seen him in Sholazar - but it appears that the "owner" has returned to his keyboard. Last time I saw him, he had a mechanohog and one of the weapons from a hilt. Of course, I can't prove this... but it seems to me that he got these items from all the leather he sold from skinning while botting as well as the other miscellaneous items I'm sure he looted during his adventures in Sholazar.

My question is: what now? People have always said, "It takes a few months for Blizzard to do their mass banning!" Well, it's been a few months now... and the guy is still enjoying his account. I'm not saying he should be perma-banned... honestly, I don't know what punishment is usual for that type of behavior. But I'm starting to wonder... do these cheaters get punished at all? It's disappointing for a player like myself who spends personal time reporting this stuff in order to make our community a better one. But it's really feeling pointless at this time. Do I open another ticket? Or just continue to wait this one out?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions! :)
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Trainee
#20 - Sept. 3, 2010, 3:29 a.m.
Blizzard Post
Pekti, there's a number of possible outcomes as to what could have happened in this situation. I'm afraid I cannot give you the specifics of what happened, as has been previously mentioned. But there are many factors that can contribute to you not seeing a 'direct result.' For example:

    -The player could have been temporarily suspended and not permanently banned.
    -The player may not have been botting.
    -The investigation is still ongoing, or we are still actively observing this player.


As for what to do next, if you believe a reasonable amount of time has passed (and a couple of months I believe qualifies as reasonable), you are most welcome to report the individual again. We don't have a specific procedure for players to report repeat offenders, but trust when I say that the actions that we take compound on one another. If a player has been found to be botting in the past, and they don't learn their lesson, then we are quite likely to give them a harsher punishment the second time around, up to closure of their account.

For more information regarding how we handle additional penalties, please take the time to read over our Penalty Volcano:

Account Penalties
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20221

That said, thank you very much for your hard work in investigating these issues, Petki. =) It is players like you that allow us to make the World of Warcraft a better, less botted place.