My Playstation 3 got suspended or banned

[ShadowManuX]

Hello all, I don't normally use this forum a lot, just to ask if a ps3 online server is working or not.. However, today happened something horrible to me and I wish to let every ps3 player know.. 

Here

Last night, I played DMC HD Collection, particularly DMC2, I did some trophies and decided to call it a night. Today, I woke up to discover that I couldn't connect to PSN it was weird since the ps3 not connecting to the internet but my cousin next to me was using his ps4 and playing online. I decided to google the message and discovered that I for some reason got banned. I was shocked since I don't play online much and besides, if I do, I do with boosters and the conversation is nice and smooth no need to being rude or gather people to do hate groups, I don't have my console hacked either. I mean, why would I hack my console if I keep paying and purchase a lot of games and things for my ps3. I searched about this on the PlayStation support website and couldn't find any link anywhere about this problem, I found one about being banned but it was a circle link that directs me to the same link saying that I should click another link, a mess. Then I tried to click on different options to check if I could contact someone from Sony and in the end, I've found the chat with sony representatives. This is their response:
 

Quote

Rafael A.:Thank you for contacting PlayStation, my name is Rafael A. how may I assist you today?

Remember: Please do not refresh your screen as it will disconnect the chat session. Thanks!

Me:Hello Rafael good afternoon. I have a problem with my ps3 .  Yesterday, I played Devil May Cry HD collection, particularly DMC2. I did some trophies and everything was fine. However, today I woke up to play some more but I got a surprising message saying that "Access to Sony Entertainment Network from this system has been banned or temporarily suspended." I was shocked to see this because I saw no reason for this, I checked my e-mail and see no mail from PlayStation support or anything related, the only last mails are from ps+ transactions of free games. My question is, why has my ps3 been banned or suspended out of nowhere? I don't tamper with any consoles or do anything illegal as I like using my consoles and I like to pay to get more PlayStation services. Please, I would love to get this issue fixed so I can keep enjoying my Ps3.  Thanks and sorry for the inconvenience. 

Me:I don't use my console to play online so I can't violate the community rules

Rafael A.:Hi, Nicolas  ! I am sorry to know you are unable to access your account using your console. I will be pleased to review what is happening and comeback to you with the information.

Me:I checked the support website to try to find a solution for this problem but I couldn't find anything so I tried to to contact via this form

Rafael A.:We will be working with the account you entered on the pre-chat form. Lets get started and please provide me: 

Email linked to the account

Serial number of your console

Me:Email: **********@hotmail.com

Me:Let me look for the serial number

Me:Where can I look for the serial number? I am a bit lost 

Rafael A.:The serial number is located at the back or at the bottom of the console, under the bar code.  Here you have 2 links with some information about how to locate the serial number depending the model console.

 PS3: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/PS3-Model-and-Serial-Number-Location1/?

PS4: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/PS4-Serial-and-Model-Number-Location-1/?

Me:Alright give me a minute

Rafael A.:Sure

Me:******-**-****

Me:Sorry, had to shut down and unplug

Rafael A.:Thank you so much for waiting. Nicolas

 , let me explain that in this case our system shows your console has been permanently banned because violation of the PSN terms of service was identified. Unfortunately you will not be able to sign in to PSN from this console from any PSN account. If you want to sign in to the PSN and have access to these services you will need to replace the console. More details about why a console can be banned can be found here: https://support.us.playstation.com/articles/en_US/KC_Article/Information-on-Banned-Accounts-and-Consoles/

Me:This console is from all my life, never changed it or tampered with it, this problem is new so it is a shocked for us

Rafael A.:I completely  understand your position, however when it comes accessing the PSN network it is not possible to allow this device to connect again. I will ask you to please sign in from a different console so you can log in to PSN.

Rafael A.:At the end of this chat you will receive an email with more  information about Online Safety and Moderation practices, Please if you need futher assistance or any other request do not hesitate to contact us back.

Rafael A.:At this moment is there anything else I can help you with?

Me:But I never violated anything, how can this be?

Me:I don't play online or did anything to the console

Me:If i purchase a new one how can I be certain that i won't get the console banned again with no reason?

Me:How can this console be banned and I still can play in my ps4 or ps vita?

Me:I never get an email saying that i got banned

Rafael A.:I totally understand however at this money there is not way to use the console anymore

Me:I played normally yesteday and woke up the next morning and realised i got suspended

Me:I want to know which terms I have violated I don't undertand

Me:with that excuse sony can ban anything and say that I violated the terms again

Me:Please, I require a concrete response or an email explaining this

Rafael A.:I understand your concern Nicolas however at this moment there is not way to perform anything in your console

Me:I have been a member of playstation since 2011/12 and I never broke anything, never insulted anyone, being rude or anything related

Me:So your solution is to buy another console and praise that I don't get banned again with no reason?

Rafael A.:so you will be getting the email regarding all the information of this process

Me:How can I know that I will not get banned with the new ps3? It doesn't make sense

Rafael A.:Let me share with you the only that is banned is your console not your account, meaning that you are able to get access to your PSN Account in another devices

Me:So the banning of a ps3 console is permanent, That I understand which is quite unfair. Your solution is to buy another ps3 and link my account so I can play in that console but how do I know that that console won't get banned like my past console? You are saying that I broke the terms and the console got banned you won't state which terms I have broken and say that I have to buy a new ps3 to play... Do you know what I mean? What happends if this happends again and again? There has to be another way

Rafael A.:Yes that information you will be getting to the email at this moment I shared with you above the information why your console was suspended and there is not way to perform nothing in your console

Rafael A.:Besides this Is there anything else I can help you with?

Me:No, that will be all. I will cry all day long. Thanks for the response.

Rafael A.:I'm sorry that today we were unable to provide the resolution you expected, It has been a pleasure chatting with you today.  Thank you for contacting PlayStation and I hope you have a wonderful day.

Your chat timed out because you didn't respond to the agent. If you'd like more help, please start a new chat.

They told me that my console was banned because I violated PSN terms of service but they refuse to tell me which terms. I mean, I went to sleep!! To top it all, they told me to buy a new one, yeah let me take some money out of nowhere and buy a new one  My ps3 is from 2011/12 (I don't remember the exact date) I never had problems with it.. and now I got banned from nowhere and with no exact answer?! This depressed me a lot.. I literally cried a lot when I told him that I will cry all day long... "You got banned for free, buy a new console or keep using your ps4/Ps Vita" I mean.. what kind of answer is that? I feel really sad and helpless... To top it all, I have been buying used ps3 games once a month to keep my library going, and now... I won't be able to keep those trophies coming anymore  

To all that come by and read my post.. Thank you and apologies, English is not my native language and at the time that I am writing this post, some tears are coming down my cheek and makes it a little hard to type. Thanks for reading.. and sorry if I violated any kind of forum violations...

 

 

[Stevieboy]

This thread might explain what could have happened:

 

 

[Parker]

2 minutes ago, Stevieboy said:

This thread might explain what could have happened:

 

 

 

I was just about the link to that thread. OP, did you have two-step verification on your account?

 

 

Parker

[ShadowManuX]

2 minutes ago, Parker said:

 

I was just about the link to that thread. OP, did you have two-step verification on your account?

 

 

Parker

 Yes I do have it on. I have too many games in my account so I better safe than sorry.

I'll check the other thread in some minutes, thanks!

[GUDGER666]

More and more reports past few weeks of this happening, Sony still not saying anything. Unlocked the other thread, hopefully no more pointless arguing. 

[dieselmanchild]

I’m really sorry this happened to you. Reading the correspondence with the lifeless knob at customer service got my blood boiling. They can’t even provide a reason for nuking your console? I can imagine how helpless you must feel dealing with this kind of injustice and getting no help or explanation from Sony.
 

These false bans seem to be happening to more and more people lately and it seems that if it does happen to you, you’re completely at the mercy of Sony, who will of course show you none whatsoever. As far as I’m aware they’ve been really tight lipped about this situation despite the fact word is spreading about the leaked IDs and customers being falsely banned. 

 

I suppose if there is any sort of silver lining here, it could be considered a small mercy that it’s your console that was banned and not your PSN account. I realize not everybody can afford to run out and buy a new one immediately in this kind of situation, but perhaps you can find a cheap used PS3 on Craigslist/FB marketplace or at a local pawn shop/video game store? I really wish I still had my old PS3 Slim lying around so I could send it to you. ☹️
 

 

[MatThaRiPP3R84]

Jim Ryan is an absolute prick. I know why all of this happens too..

 

A young lad hacked the ps3 os and posted his findings. sony came down hard on him, and pissed off a hacktivist group, they lead a series of attacks designed to bring psn to a halt, bombarding the network with data so it couldn't function but at the same time as this attack.. there was another attack, a full on stealth attack from a different group of hackers, they stole information routed through source code and back end shit.

 

theese hackers found a way to clone accounts, aswel as digital games from different accounts. if your console was banned it's most likely because when the hack happened you were targetted, and you wouldn't of even known because the hack happened to PSN not your console. they were probably cloning your account and selling your games, there are websites and even secret facebook groups that sell cloned accounts in the tens of thousands.

 

so because ryan didn't shut down the ps3 store, he's started banning accounts that have been sold, shared, leaked or used for phishing (all without original account owner's permission, all stolen)

 

TL:DR you are being punished, because sony got hacked, lost your private information

[MidnightDragon]

I have two step. At least if someone's gonna mess with my PS3, I'll get warned about it. 

[FeelTheCosmos]

16 hours ago, ShadowManuX said:

*snip

 

Ah crap, not this again.  That other thread resulted in a whole bunch of "news" articles, but the one that matters was from 6/25 on threatpost.com:  

 

"Sony has not responded to Threatpost’s request for comment or confirmed a connection between the PS3 ID breach and player reports of being locked out of the platform."

 

It's been more than 30 days now since they were "informed" of this issue and they haven't disclosed it, so I guess it's not a thing.  There is a very important post from DaivRules though, I think it was around page 12 or something, giving some good advice about contacting a different rep and saying very specific things to get them to tell you why your console was banned.  Sucks that yours was permanent, ours were all 2 day bans.  Maybe that rep had it wrong?  Either way, I'm sorry this has happened to you and I hope you can find a way to get this restored.

 

13 hours ago, MidnightDragon said:

I have two step. At least if someone's gonna mess with my PS3, I'll get warned about it. 

Nope, unfortunately these are console bans, not account bans.  2 step won't help you at all, since they're spoofing your console and can use any account they want with your console's unique identifier.

[ShadowManuX]

2 hours ago, FeelTheCosmos said:

There is a very important post from DaivRules though, I think it was around page 12 or something, giving some good advice about contacting a different rep and saying very specific things to get them to tell you why your console was banned.  

I tried to contact again today but got this error message. I don't know if they want me to prevent to communicate again or if I should change the account which I try to communicate. Either way, I should wait some hours and try again.

[SnowxSakura]

19 minutes ago, ShadowManuX said:

I tried to contact again today but got this error message. I don't know if they want me to prevent to communicate again or if I should change the account which I try to communicate. Either way, I should wait some hours and try again.

They limit chat to once every 24 hours I believe, you have to wait until that timer expires

[MidnightDragon]

4 hours ago, FeelTheCosmos said:

Ah crap, not this again.  That other thread resulted in a whole bunch of "news" articles, but the one that matters was from 6/25 on threatpost.com:  

 

"Sony has not responded to Threatpost’s request for comment or confirmed a connection between the PS3 ID breach and player reports of being locked out of the platform."

 

It's been more than 30 days now since they were "informed" of this issue and they haven't disclosed it, so I guess it's not a thing.  There is a very important post from DaivRules though, I think it was around page 12 or something, giving some good advice about contacting a different rep and saying very specific things to get them to tell you why your console was banned.  Sucks that yours was permanent, ours were all 2 day bans.  Maybe that rep had it wrong?  Either way, I'm sorry this has happened to you and I hope you can find a way to get this restored.

 

Nope, unfortunately these are console bans, not account bans.  2 step won't help you at all, since they're spoofing your console and can use any account they want with your console's unique identifier.

Well, hopefully if they decide to take mine, they do so after I’m done with it.

 

[ShadowManuX]

3 hours ago, SnowxSakura said:

They limit chat to once every 24 hours I believe, you have to wait until that timer expires

Thanks, I have been trying to communicate again, since I more or less know when I finished talking with the representative yesterday but with no luck. I guess I'll try again tomorrow, hopefully, it may be a two days ban instead of permanent. Thanks for the response!

[Jigsy1]

On 2021/7/28 at 9:06 PM, ShadowManuX said:

[...] To top it all, they told me to buy a new one [...]

 

Well this has racketeering written all over it...

[Z1MZUM]

On 7/29/2021 at 8:43 AM, MatThaRiPP3R84 said:

Jim Ryan is an absolute prick. I know why all of this happens too..

 

A young lad hacked the ps3 os and posted his findings. sony came down hard on him, and pissed off a hacktivist group, they lead a series of attacks designed to bring psn to a halt, bombarding the network with data so it couldn't function but at the same time as this attack.. there was another attack, a full on stealth attack from a different group of hackers, they stole information routed through source code and back end shit.

 

theese hackers found a way to clone accounts, aswel as digital games from different accounts. if your console was banned it's most likely because when the hack happened you were targetted, and you wouldn't of even known because the hack happened to PSN not your console. they were probably cloning your account and selling your games, there are websites and even secret facebook groups that sell cloned accounts in the tens of thousands.

 

so because ryan didn't shut down the ps3 store, he's started banning accounts that have been sold, shared, leaked or used for phishing (all without original account owner's permission, all stolen)

 

TL:DR you are being punished, because sony got hacked, lost your private information

 

For this to happen the same as the OP, it would mean that the consoles serial number is also hacked? So whoever used the account was also using a cloned serial number? Surely Sony has the technology to at least find out where on the planet the original account is and the cloned account was.

[MatThaRiPP3R84]

8 hours ago, Z1MZUM said:

 

For this to happen the same as the OP, it would mean that the consoles serial number is also hacked? So whoever used the account was also using a cloned serial number? Surely Sony has the technology to at least find out where on the planet the original account is and the cloned account was.

no because of much of the damage the hackers caused. they snuck in during the initial attack and was still there for months after the first attack ended, undetected because they were deleting everything they touched, however the network was going through weird disruptions sony couldn't narrow down so they checked the backups, the hackers could delete what they were altering but not the backups, so it didn't pass the checks, sony shut the network down and "fixed" it, gave everysone some shit games, a heartfelt apology and a vague description of what happened.

 

fast forward a few years, PS4 comes out right, and a year or two later the network goes down again... beacause the hackers left the door unlatched so to speak, a hidden door they created when they left, they snuck in.. dived through all of the alterations to the network sony had made for the new generation again, and then started cloning serial numbers again, so they can generate multiple clones of certain accounts, and sell them.

 

if you go to google and shopping search for cheap ps4 games google actually push out at the top of their search results, a website that specialises in selling stolen accounts. I stupidly bought one thinking i'd get a digital game code, what i got was someone elses account, and when i clicked into it.. it had all his damn bank card details still there so i emailed the poor bastard and told him what happened. and got a refund for the money i spent.

 

the hackers had limited time to what they could find inside the network, so the theory is they targetted people specifically with large amounts of trophies, the thinking was they would have the most digital games on their accounts. and tbh only Sony really know what the hackers have done to theese accounts.. they are probably still trying to figure it out, or was.. and im guessing their number cruncher guys told them, keeping the ps3 store open isn't worth it because of the resale of theese accounts, so to make more money they ban all the consoles involved.

Edited July 30, 2021 by MatThaRiPP3R84

[ShadowManuX]

Update: Two days passed since my ps3 got banned and chatted with the sony representative. I checked my console today again to check if this was only a two-days-ban and it is still banned/suspended.. 
I tried to contact support again but the same message pops "Come back tomorrow" . I feel really sad and tired whenever I check my ps3 or try to contact with no response. I mean, the company you always supported lets you down... and it sucks.... I don't know how to describe what I feel. Thanks everyone for your responses!!

[Raidou Kuzunoha XIV]

6 minutes ago, ShadowManuX said:

Update: Two days passed since my ps3 got banned and chatted with the sony representative. I checked my console today again to check if this was only a two-days-ban and it is still banned/suspended.. 
I tried to contact support again but the same message pops "Come back tomorrow" . I feel really sad and tired whenever I check my ps3 or try to contact with no response. I mean, the company you always supported lets you down... and it sucks.... I don't know how to describe what I feel. Thanks everyone for your responses!!

 

The good news is, most people do seem to be getting their consoles unbanned at some point. Seems to be a few days to a week for most, but I've seen a few that took about a month to be unbanned (even if Sony claims the ban is permanent). If you can get in contact with Sony support again, try asking if you can talk to anyone in security about this.

 

I'm sorry this happened to you, it's definitely very concerning that this seems to be a fairly common occurrence for people these past few months. I hope you manage to get this resolved.

[MatThaRiPP3R84]

I wasn't aware they are unbanning them. Thats definitely good. good luck mate I hope everything sorts itself out soon enough. and hey if you can find a second, super cheap ps3, you can boost whatever online games u got to do?

[ShadowManuX]

9 hours ago, SuperSmexy500 said:

 

The good news is, most people do seem to be getting their consoles unbanned at some point. Seems to be a few days to a week for most, but I've seen a few that took about a month to be unbanned (even if Sony claims the ban is permanent). If you can get in contact with Sony support again, try asking if you can talk to anyone in security about this.

 

I'm sorry this happened to you, it's definitely very concerning that this seems to be a fairly common occurrence for people these past few months. I hope you manage to get this resolved.

Your response gave me a lot of comfort, I played today to try to get my mind away of the situation. Then before opening another game I  decided to check to log in and to my surprised... the ban got lifted!!! I am so happy and relieved!! I even cried out of happiness! Thank you guys so much for all your support and feedback! I was not able to communicate again with Playstation but I got my suspension lifted.. Should I try to communicate with Playstation again? 

I repeat, thank you all, from the deepest of my heart... Your feedback and answers calmed me and reassured me a lot... I really like this community ???

[Breakingthegreen]

6 hours ago, MatThaRiPP3R84 said:

I wasn't aware they are unbanning them. Thats definitely good. good luck mate I hope everything sorts itself out soon enough. and hey if you can find a second, super cheap ps3, you can boost whatever online games u got to do?

Reckon there's a chance some of us got banned and unbanned without us noticing?

[Raidou Kuzunoha XIV]

31 minutes ago, ShadowManuX said:

Your response gave me a lot of comfort, I played today to try to get my mind away of the situation. Then before opening another game I  decided to check to log in and to my surprised... the ban got lifted!!! I am so happy and relieved!! I even cried out of happiness! Thank you guys so much for all your support and feedback! I was not able to communicate again with Playstation but I got my suspension lifted.. Should I try to communicate with Playstation again? 

I repeat, thank you all, from the deepest of my heart... Your feedback and answers calmed me and reassured me a lot... I really like this community 

 

That's great to hear, glad your console is able to access online again. It probably isn't worth contacting Playstation support again, as you're likely just going to get another customer rep that isn't helpful and/or isn't knowledgeable on the situation. Sony hasn't really made it clear why anyone has been receiving bans yet, if they ever do.

 

24 minutes ago, breakingthegreen said:

Reckon there's a chance some of us got banned and unbanned without us noticing?

 

Possibly, it's been brought up before in the thread about the potential leak. It's not unusual for me to play my PS3 just once a week nowadays (just slowly slogging through the rest of the backlog) so maybe it's already happened to me for all I know, but I certainly haven't noticed anything when I have been playing it yet at least.

[tony_snake_24]

1 hour ago, ShadowManuX said:

Your response gave me a lot of comfort, I played today to try to get my mind away of the situation. Then before opening another game I  decided to check to log in and to my surprised... the ban got lifted!!! I am so happy and relieved!! I even cried out of happiness! Thank you guys so much for all your support and feedback! I was not able to communicate again with Playstation but I got my suspension lifted.. Should I try to communicate with Playstation again? 

I repeat, thank you all, from the deepest of my heart... Your feedback and answers calmed me and reassured me a lot... I really like this community 

I'm genuinely happy you got unbanned dude!

[Z1MZUM]

On 7/31/2021 at 0:54 AM, MatThaRiPP3R84 said:

no because of much of the damage the hackers caused. they snuck in during the initial attack and was still there for months after the first attack ended, undetected because they were deleting everything they touched, however the network was going through weird disruptions sony couldn't narrow down so they checked the backups, the hackers could delete what they were altering but not the backups, so it didn't pass the checks, sony shut the network down and "fixed" it, gave everysone some shit games, a heartfelt apology and a vague description of what happened.

 

fast forward a few years, PS4 comes out right, and a year or two later the network goes down again... beacause the hackers left the door unlatched so to speak, a hidden door they created when they left, they snuck in.. dived through all of the alterations to the network sony had made for the new generation again, and then started cloning serial numbers again, so they can generate multiple clones of certain accounts, and sell them.

 

if you go to google and shopping search for cheap ps4 games google actually push out at the top of their search results, a website that specialises in selling stolen accounts. I stupidly bought one thinking i'd get a digital game code, what i got was someone elses account, and when i clicked into it.. it had all his damn bank card details still there so i emailed the poor bastard and told him what happened. and got a refund for the money i spent.

 

the hackers had limited time to what they could find inside the network, so the theory is they targetted people specifically with large amounts of trophies, the thinking was they would have the most digital games on their accounts. and tbh only Sony really know what the hackers have done to theese accounts.. they are probably still trying to figure it out, or was.. and im guessing their number cruncher guys told them, keeping the ps3 store open isn't worth it because of the resale of theese accounts, so to make more money they ban all the consoles involved.

 

Honestly that is so fucked up, these hackers must have been picked on at school. Explains the update and the initial store closure? Allot of us take our games and lifestyle seriously and these pricks don't think there is ever a repercussion? Because clearly they are too smart in their minds.

[MatThaRiPP3R84]

8 hours ago, Z1MZUM said:

 

Honestly that is so fucked up, these hackers must have been picked on at school. Explains the update and the initial store closure? Allot of us take our games and lifestyle seriously and these pricks don't think there is ever a repercussion? Because clearly they are too smart in their minds.

it was just for money. everything they do with stolen accounts, doesn't actually effect the original account holder. unless a working in date credit/debit card is connected to the account at the time of the cloning process, but even then theese hackers were professionals, not anarchists they wanted cash, not to upset little tommy and rob his mums' bank details. they wanted to print cash reselling full price games half price, most of the time they even had the foresight to delete bank details from the accounts they cloned.

 

sony probably banned all the ps3s because they couldn't tell which ones were clones, and which were the originals. kept quiet about it, as considering it all stems from their own refusal to upgrade the network properly, (it was just a patched ps2 network, it was never even intended to have a network like that, it only did because MS had one on the 360) but by banning all the accounts, noone who purchased a stolen account will complain to sony, only the genuine account holders would.

Edited August 3, 2021 by MatThaRiPP3R84