RMT issue plaguing this game and how those affected can fight back.

RealmPlayer

Whenever you do something in the game you send data out to the server. The hackers have figured out that they can modify the outgoing data to say something new. For instance this worthless copper being sold to the vendor can be modified to be a stack of the rarest gold plated things in the game. Therefore hackers, once into a compromised account, generate gold at insane rates. They then trade the gold to high level crafters. This pushed the economy to insane prices.

(Perhaps this is not the exact method used. Either way there is or was a gold exploit.)

These exploits are being executed by compromised accounts. There is so many compromised accounts you cannot talk in a city. They all spam their gold selling websites at rates in which you can not see any other information. Their is no text throttle in the game. (I've been informed recently a yell spam throttle was added)

Square did not fix the exploit. Instead they:

• They removed 90% of a players gold if they reached above a certain gold count. 
• They appeared to have put in a automatic suspension system that ONLY kicks in once the player logs out. It does not kick the player off once tripped. Therefore you have until log off if you exploit to finish your goals.
• All accounts compromised in the gold advertising or RMT eventually trigger this suspension that marks the account for 10 days suspended (The original punishment for RMT) Players that contact support immediately get told the account is returned in 10 days. On day 2-3 of the suspension, the account is terminated. This overrides the 10 day wait. Customer service now acts confused and won't admit they originally gave you a date.
• Very active legit crafters now being accused of cheating and therefore suspended. It is dangerous to now sell the best items in the game as you might sell one of them to a compromised account. If you do, you have a chance of being suspended. 

Square brags about their efforts to combat this:

• Time Period: Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 30 2013 

-Accounts receiving disciplinary action for RMT advertising: 3694 

-Accounts receiving disciplinary action for illicit activity: 4266 

-Action Details: Permanent ban from FINAL FANTASY XIV

• Date: Sep. 12 – Sep. 30, 2013

- Accounts receiving disciplinary action for RMT site advertisements: 6,154 accounts

- Accounts receiving disciplinary action for illicit activity: 156 accounts

- Action Details: Termination from FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn

•  Date: Sep. 28, 2013

- Accounts receiving disciplinary action for RMT/illicit activities: 568 accounts

- Action Details: Termination/Temporary suspension from FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn

* Accounts of egregious violators will be terminated.

- Total Frozen Gil: Approximately 367,700 million Gil

* Gil of temporarily suspended accounts will be confiscated.

 

Notice the punishment increasing over time. However the accounts were never legitimate, these were all compromised accounts.

It also important to note that once you realize someone is in your account, you can not get them out. Logging into a character (assuming you can) will not kick them out. It kicks you out. The only way to stop someone in your account is to terminate the account which requires support to reopen.

When you are the person stealing the account you gain access to the players:

• Name
• Email
• Address

Customer Service uses the exact same information to verify account ownership. Therefore it is assumed, the person that steals an account, can identify themselves as the owner.

Customer Service requires at least 3 separate contacts to fully elevate a ticket for a suspended account. 

• 1st contact to be informed why you were suspended. Some users are told they are not allowed to know. Suspension usually stated to be 10 days.
• 2nd contact is required as the suspension is usually never just 10 days. It usually is longer. They will elevate your ticket on this contact.
• 3rd contact is when they mark the escalated ticket for a faster response. Nothing more is really done for the account besides this mark. 

Your game time is counting down while the suspension or 'investigation' is occurring. In attempt to request a refund or game time refund, customer service has used these techniques:

• Representative tells you to request refund from retailer knowing the account key is used and suspended.
• Representative will refer you to look to twitter or news for an update on whether you will receive your game time back or not.

As a final reminder in dealing with customer service, never admit to customer service or to anyone in-game that someone has used your account. Only you to have used your account. You will instantly lose the account.

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Well I don't know any of this stuff.....But I do know I like Hot Wings and soda !