Credit to massively.joystiq.com for the featured image
Despite the best efforts of Team Security and the recent introduction of 2-factor authentication, real money trading, or RMT, is still a large problem in Eve. Sadly this is something that is becoming all too common despite the best efforts of CCP to prevent it. The way CCP handles these offences changed 3 months ago as outlined here. While CCP often manages to stop RMT by inflicting harsh penalties on people conducting the practice, oftentimes innocent players get caught up. We at EN24 sat down with ButterNut, an Amok member currently banned for RMT, to discuss this.
EN24: Can you tell us what happened to get your accounts banned?
ButterNut: So back in early 2013 I took a break from EvE, moved all my assets to empire and let my subs run dry. I started playing other games and doing real life stuff. In the middle of 2014 I got a message on steam from a friend still active in eve telling me one of my accounts has joined another corp and wanted to know what was going on, they had assumed it was me defecting. I told them it wasn’t me and tried to log in to my account management page to check activity. I found that all my accounts had their e-mails and passwords changed.
I sent an email over to CCP support to get the whole thing sorted. They asked me some questions to make sure I was the owner of the accounts and gave them all back to me mostly intact (most of my isk and assets had been sold). It turned out that my accounts had been sold for dollars but I thought nothing of it, I had my eve mans back and that was the end of it for me.
At this time I still left them all unsubed as I still didn’t want to play again yet. 2015 comes around and a friend still playing convinces me to resub. I log in sub everyone up and get to getting. About a month and half in I wake up one morning to see some emails from CCP. Saying my accounts have been banned for RMT.
I respond to the ticket but so far all I’ve been getting is 1 response and day and most of it very unhelpful. The GM I’ve been speaking with has told me to “start over” or just responded with canned copy paste reply’s. I take some responsibility for the breach but I really don’t feel like I should have to give up well over 6 years of my life/time. They are going after me when they should be attacking the person(s) who bought my accounts or sold them.
EN24: Do you think there was anything you did to enable the unauthorized entry to the accounts?
ButterNut: Yeah I totally take full blame for using bad passwords and not protecting my self in smart way. I reused passwords for email and all my eve accounts used the same passwords. I did change a lot when this all happened though.
EN24: Have your fellow players been helpful in this ordeal?
ButterNut: Players have been supportive I’ve had people tell me they or friends have had this exact thing happen to them. They were able to get their accounts back but I’ve not been so lucky as of yet.
EN24: Before this incident what did you do in Eve?
ButterNut:PVP. I’ve been all over. I prefer small to medium fleets and have flown with the CFC, TEST and The Tuskers. I’m in the CFC now but prefer to stick to small groups.
EN24: What could CCP have done to be more helpful?
ButterNut: I think CCP has been taking steps to solve things like this, they have added 2 factor authentication finally. They should also have a system that sends you an email when someone other then your IP logs into your account. CCP takes a hardline with RMT and they should but they are, in this case going after a victim of RMT and not the people who buy/sell accounts. This game is a prime target for things like this due to the value of assets and accounts. I’m more surprised this isn’t a lot more common.
EN24: Do you actively play eve or are you waiting for your accounts to be unbanned?
ButterNut: I’m lucky enough to be around people that have been super supportive and have been given isk to buy a new character. I’m still holding out hope to get back my original characters but I still want to be a part of my group while CCP works though this with me.
EN24: What would you say to people in a similar situation?
ButterNut: Don’t give up and try to stay positive. The GM’s are not out to get you they’re just doing their job. It’s frustrating but getting angry wont help you.
In order to prevent RMT from becoming rampant as it was in the past CCP has decided to take a hard stance. Do you agree with this? Have you been banned/accused of RMT before? Do you think that CCP needs to take further steps to stop RMT? Let us know in the comments.
