Guys, I need some help.
My Pokémon GO account was suspended shortly after returning home from Japan for GO Fest. I’ve spent hours trying to reach a human for clarification and finally received a response directing me to contact the Wayfarer team for further assistance.
That response makes me wonder if the issue may not be related to my gameplay at all, but instead something Wayfarer-related on my account.
The problem is that I haven’t actively used Wayfarer in 6–7 months. The only thing I can recall doing recently was submitting a legitimate PokéStop name edit. I later realized the PokéStop may have been a temporary GO Fest Wayspot, but at the time I had no idea it was temporary and was simply trying to improve the title.
My questions are:
• Can a single name edit result in a suspension?
• Has anyone successfully appealed a Wayfarer-related enforcement action?
• Is there any way to reach a human reviewer more quickly?
I’ve already submitted the Wayfarer appeal form but haven’t received a response yet. I’m especially stressed because I have a flight tomorrow for GO Fest Chicago and have extensive travel records proving I was physically present in Japan during GO Fest.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am glad you created your own topic. Are you certain that the ban is from Wayfarer? Did you receive emails explaining the infraction?
Is this all you got, and was that from PoGo support?
- If egregious enough I guess, but it sounds very strange. It is definitely not a regular occurence.
- Yes, that happens.
- No. You’ve what you can do in regards to contacting the Wayfarer staff.
Would you be able to share a screenshot of your proposed name edit?
I do not read Japanese. I believed the Wayspot corresponded to the GO Fest location known as SunGoku Pass and submitted the edit in good faith while attending the event. I was unaware the existing title translated to ‘Shiokaze Park Overall Guide Map’ and would not have submitted the edit had I understood the original meaning
Hello and welcome @BeastyCups
This is an example set of the emails you receive if the reason for the suspension originates from wayfarer.
Do search any email accounts associated with your Niantic activity.
I am not certain of what the ban is for.
I have had no luck getting any help.
This email just made me believe it could be.
I have not received any emails like this, all I have was the one posted above.
Thank you.
Out of curiosity you said you did one edit. Was there a reason why you decided to do that?
Please be patient. The wayfarer team read these posts and often start a forum DM to discuss.
While attending GO Fest Japan in person, I visited the official Wayfarer booth, presented my Platinum Wayfarer badge, and participated in the associated activities and research.
Later, I encountered a pokestop with a title written entirely in Japanese. Because I do not read Japanese, I believed it referred to a location known as it “SunGoku Pass” meant to put Pass** and submitted a title edit in good faith, partly to complete the event research task related to Wayspot contributions.
This was a genuine mistake made while participating in GO Fest activities, not an attempt to manipulate or abuse the Wayfarer system.
Again, this is all speculation because I still have not received an email as to what the reason for the suspension was, only a email saying I should contact Wayfarer support.
Thank you for that information.
As we are not staff, we need to wait for staff to review this.
I appreciate it is frustrating but please be patient.
Wayspot coordinates: 35.621998,139.768005
Current photo: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cYWFH9PoKEqy_lUuQvDfDCByhxOEM-em0U-Y8e6CjPjLcmplfnNzJZqMGrOKMZFQfd8T4RZGq8dS2_vTgTFoWdE0-KlqArUAe5dVQs0=s0
It’s clearly some kind of map with the English translation at the very top. I’m not sure why you thought “SunGoku Pass” would be an appropriate title..
1 spam Title edit seems harsh to get a 30 day suspension.
- Are you sure you haven’t had previous suspensions (either wayfarer or games) in the last 12 months?
- Are you sure there was only 1 edit that you made?
I am not expecting an answer here but these are the answers that staff will know when they contact you.
Good Luck.
Hi there,
This area was extremely crowded, with 20+ Wayspots very close together. If this was the Wayspot I selected, then I may have unintentionally chosen the wrong one while submitting the edit.
On my screen, I did not see an English translation associated with the title, and I genuinely believed “SunGoku Pass” path** was an appropriate name based on what I was viewing at the time. There was no intent to mislead, abuse the system, or submit inappropriate information.
This was an honest mistake made while playing in a busy event area during GO Fest Japan. If the edit was incorrect, I fully understand it should be rejected, but I do not believe a single mistaken title suggestion should be treated as abuse warranting a 30-day suspension.
I’d like to provide some additional context regarding the title edit.
This was not an attempt to abuse Wayfarer or submit misleading information. My intent was to create a creative variation of “Hero’s Path.” While attending GO Fest Japan, I associated Son Goku with the idea of a hero and thought it would be a fun play on words that fit the location.
I also made a spelling mistake. My intention was closer to “Hero’s Path,” but I accidentally typed “Pass” instead of “Path.” It was simply an honest typo, not an effort to submit false information.
Part of the reason I believed some creativity was acceptable is because Niantic’s own Wayfarer guidance encourages contributors to come up with names that are “fun and amusing” when something doesn’t have an official name. The example they provide is an unnamed footbridge being creatively named “Opossum Bridge.”
I completely understand that reviewers may decide a title doesn’t meet Wayfarer standards. That’s their job. But there is a big difference between submitting a title that gets rejected and intentionally abusing the system.
This was a single title edit made in good faith while attending GO Fest Japan. If my interpretation of the guidelines was wrong, then I accept that. What I do not believe is that a good-faith attempt to contribute should be treated the same as deliberate abuse.
That is why I am respectfully requesting a human review so the full context and intent behind the edit can be properly considered.
Hey @BeastyCups ,
I have shared all the relevant information in a DM. Kindly check that.
