Unconfirmed reports indicate that Pokemon GO publisher Scopely has begun issuing 30-day suspensions to players who acquired Special Research tasks through unauthorized black market channels.

Quick Facts

  • Players are reportedly receiving 30-day temporary suspensions from Scopely.
  • The ban notification cites receiving Special Research in an unauthorized manner, violating Terms of Service.
  • Widespread reports allege that old Research Tasks were injected into the game to allow repeat access to rare, Research-exclusive Pokémon.
  • Neither Niantic nor Scopely has officially commented on the black market services or employee involvement.

What Is the Pokemon GO Black Market Research Issue?

Over the past nine months, community reports surfaced regarding a group—rumored to include Niantic employees—injecting old Research Tasks back into Pokemon GO. This practice allegedly allowed specific players to repeatedly obtain rare, Research-exclusive Pokémon with chosen IVs and shiny variants in exchange for high prices.

Alongside these transactions, community discussions highlighted severe harassment and doxxing directed at players who spoke out against the practice. With Scopely having completed its acquisition of Pokemon GO in recent months, the new publisher appears to be addressing the fallout from the previous owner's operations.

What Ban Notifications Are Players Receiving?

Screenshots shared within the player community show ban emails sent to accounts flagged for unauthorized activity. The message states that Scopely has confirmed the receipt of Special Research via unauthorized methods.

We take fairness seriously at Scopely Explore, and hence, your account has been temporarily suspended for 30 days. Further violations may result in additional sanctions against your account, including a permanent termination. "

While the ban emails remain unverified by an official company press release, community sentiment largely welcomes the enforcement action, though some players argue that temporary suspensions are too lenient for black market participants.