Wayspot on Private Property

[viajerita]

Hello,

I would like to report a Wayspot that has caused several issues and that we have previously reported without receiving any response.

It is a religious altar located outside a building that formerly housed a law office, which no longer exists. The building is now private property.

Today, I visited the location to take photographs that properly support the fact that the site is not suitable for gameplay. On this occasion, as on previous ones, the property owner came out visibly upset upon seeing unfamiliar people near his property. I understand his reaction, as it may seem suspicious to have strangers gathering outside his building—especially this time, when he noticed I was taking photos. I immediately apologized and left the area, although I had already taken the necessary pictures as evidence.

This behavior from the owner has occurred on multiple occasions, which motivated me to seek the removal of this Wayspot.

Additionally, I noticed that the pin for the Wayspot is not located on the building with the altar, but rather on the neighboring house, which has been private property from the beginning.

Given these circumstances, I hope you can assist me by either relocating or removing the Wayspot, or by guiding me on how to report it again, as it poses a risk of conflict with the property owners and is not an appropriate location for gameplay.

Wayspot name: Altar al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TbyL3NMSXeeqAQvX8

Pin Placement Evidence:
Proof that the marker is not correctly located.

Proof that it is no longer a law office:
Attached is the photo I took, which includes the date and time as evidence.

[DTrain2002]

Hello,

If you would like to request removal of a Wayspot, you can do so in-game or by usihg the Reporting Abuse link at the top of the forums.

This also looks like it’s a multi-family building, and Wayferer defines private property as being single family private residentual property, or SFPRP. If only one family can live here, it’s SFPRP, If more than one family can live in this building, it’s not SFPRP and ineligible for removal. More info on this an be found here:

Private Residences, Farmland & K-12

Single-family private residential properties (SFPRP), farms, and K-12 (schools or facilities primarily focused for persons under 18 years of age) are ineligible. This includes the outer facing facade, fence of these locations, and property boundaries. Objects in or upon apartment blocks, gated communities, or their shared spaces may be eligible assuming they otherwise meet criteria and are intended to be accessed by a community, even if not everyone. Communal spaces have the potential to be eli…

[viajerita]

Hello. Thank you for your response. That building used to be a law office, but it no longer is. Currently, only the owner lives there; no other families reside in the property. Also, the location is not marked on that building, but on the one next to it, which is indeed a single-family home.

[DTrain2002]

You still have to report it either in-game or using the Reporting Abuse link at the top of the forums. Staff only handles rejected removal request appeals here, so you need to go through 1 of those channels 1st.

[viajerita]

Yes, the Wayspot has been reported through the mentioned page. However, we always receive the same response: that the owner must be the one to report it. But the property owner is the one who confronts us, and we’ve already tried to talk to him without success, as he responds with insults. Today, when I went to take photos to show that it is private property, he insulted me again. As I mentioned before, I understand his reaction—it’s suspicious for a stranger to take photos of your property. I simply apologized and left to avoid further conflict.

[seaprincesshnb]

If the owner refuses to have the wayspot removed by contacting Wayfarer staff, you may just have to avoid it on your own. You are not required to interact with every wayspot that exists in the game. In fact, the game reminds you not to trespass when it starts up. Local law always overrides any gameplay needs or desires.

[NianticAaron]

@viajerita

we have previously reported without receiving any response.

That’s not possible. We respond to every request we receive.

@viajerita

motivated me to seek the removal of this Wayspot.

We need a request from the property owner to proceed with removal.

@viajerita

the property owner came out visibly upset upon seeing unfamiliar people near his property

If you’re not certain you have the right to access a location or are not certain it is safe to access, please do not make any attempts to do so. As a player or any other member of the community, you must respect access restrictions, never trespass, or in any manner gain or attempt to gain access to any property or location where you do not have the right or permission to be. Please review and follow the Player Guidelines at all times while playing our games to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone!

[viajerita]

Thank you for your response. When we say that we haven’t received an answer, we mean that we always get the same reply: that the property owner must be the one to request the removal. However, that position is unrealistic in this case. The owner has reacted aggressively on multiple occasions and has refused to engage in any kind of dialogue. He insults us, gets upset even at the presence of strangers nearby, and is certainly not willing to submit a formal request.

We are a small community, and several members have reported the Wayspot as unsafe or completed the corresponding survey. This is not a single isolated report, yet the response is always the same: “we need to speak with the owner.” What happens when the owner refuses to talk to anyone and his reaction puts players at risk? Isn’t that, in itself, a clear sign that the location is not suitable?

I fully understand that I can choose not to play there. And I will. But that doesn’t solve the problem, because I have no control over what other players decide to do. As long as the Wayspot remains active, people will continue to go. And with each visit, the risk of conflict is repeated. It’s only a matter of time before a more serious issue occurs.

Instead of listening to your community, you’re responding in a closed and unempathetic way. So, what’s the point of having reporting tools if, when concerns are raised, the arguments are ignored and an unworkable solution is insisted upon?

With all due respect, I hope you can reflect on this particular case and on how your own rules are being applied. This is not about confrontation or blame, but about preventing unnecessary situations and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

Given all of the above, I’m sharing the corresponding evidence. First, I went to the location myself to confirm what I had been told: that the Wayspot pin is not correctly placed, but instead is on the house next door. After checking, I confirmed this was true. Below is evidence from a community member who attempted to relocate the pin.

I’m also sharing another piece of evidence: I only stood in front of the house, without entering at any time. However, the Google Maps pin shows that I’m inside, when in reality I was only outside documenting the game data and how the location was marked.

I was where the red line is shown in the image. I repeat: I was not inside, as the marker indicates, but outside.

I continue documenting everything that is shared with me. Why? Because I’m the administrator of the Pokémon GO Huixquilucan group. I listen to the players’ concerns and document them. If you’d like to verify that I’m the administrator, I’ve also included proof—if that helps at all.

Mod Edit Screenshot removed

I’m also including a screenshot of an email shared with me by another player, who reported this Wayspot on May 15.

As I mentioned before, I can choose not to go and will share your resolution with the group. However, the decision of whether or not other players visit the location is not mine. Still, if something were to happen, the responsibility could fall on us as group administrators.

That’s all from me. I wish you an excellent day.

The screen shot of players names has been removed. Wayfarer staff can still, access if they need to.

[esegere]

Thank you for your effort in reporting this situation. I’ve read the strong rejection your report received. I will inform the Pokémon GO Huixquilucan community to stop playing at that location, and if anyone chooses to go, it will be at their own risk.

I know you’re not a confrontational person and that you’re simply looking out for everyone’s safety. But please don’t risk getting your account blocked for trying to document and gather verified evidence of the issue we’re facing as a community.

It’s not worth arguing with those who don’t listen to their community. What matters most is staying safe—and we’re in this togethe.

I’m Masioserch.

[viajerita]

Thank you. I find everything that’s happening unfair. I don’t want anyone in the Huixquilucan Pokémon Go community to get hurt.

[hankwolfman]

This may seem almost old fashioned, but is there any chance you can maybe write the owner of the property a letter explaining to them what the issue is and giving them instructions on how to request the removal themselves?

[NianticAaron]

@viajerita

As long as the Wayspot remains active, people will continue to go.

While Niantic does encourage all players to abide by local laws, as stated in the game’s Terms of Service and as reiterated through in-game warnings and notifications, we ultimately cannot control or be responsible for how individual users elect to act or behave on their own volition.

If players engage in unlawful behavior while playing our games, we encourage you to work with local law enforcement to address the issue, as you would with other individuals in your community.

Our policies dictate that we hear from the property owners themselves in order to proceed with removal.

[Luzifer29st]

It’s sad that we’re not being heard by Niantic. I witnessed the owner insulting a group of players. I was walking by and saw a group doing a raid; they were sitting on the sidewalk when the owner came out, yelled at them, and was holding a bucket of water. I felt like he was about to throw it at them.

There have also been attempts to report this location because it’s right in front of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Even the police officers have questioned why people are playing there.

[TjoeMi]

@Luzifer29st

It’s sad that we’re not being heard by Niantic

Its now scopely. Anyway its players responsibility te be respectful to its surrounding. Interraction radius is big enough for you to interract without even near the wayspot. If your group gather near wayspot and causing noise, its your responsibility

[viajerita]

Yes, we’ve tried speaking with police officers, but they side with the owner—it’s his property, and we shouldn’t be there. However, Niantic has already stated that they don’t control the players, and if the owner doesn’t request the removal, they won’t take any action.

What I don’t understand is why the owner is expected to make the report when he never requested that Wayspot in the first place. It was submitted by a player who has even quit the game.

Officers from the Public Prosecutor’s Office have also spoken to us because there are three gyms in the area that cause problems: one with a religious statue on the corner, one at the Conalep, and this one at the Sacred Heart. That’s exactly why player groups gather there—three gyms are close together. But there’s not much we can do, other than continue warning people not to play there.

It has already been proven that this Wayspot is on private property, but it seems that the evidence means nothing.

[cyndiepooh]

When Wayfarer staff have not been able to accept my removal report, I simply contact the owner and let them know the game location is there so they can ask for removal. I don’t even have to give them any links, just tell them to search on remove pokemon go location. And I have always been able to contact them through a business link, such as email or Facebook, if you want to avoid talking the the owner. If they truly don’t want folks there, they will be grateful to learn why this is happening and will follow up.

Edit: oops hit the wrong reply button. Should have been to OP.

[TjoeMi]

@viajerita

private property, but it seems that the evidence means nothing.

Only single family private residential property is ineligible. Multi family private residence might be eligible

[cyndiepooh]

@viajerita

private property

In the context of Wayfarer, the only ineligible “private property” is SFPRP - Single Family Private Residential Property.

[viajerita]

This is not a family residence; it used to be a law office, but it no longer is. I don’t know if the current owner is the same person who ran the office. What I was able to confirm is that the location pin is not placed on this building, but on the house next door, which is indeed a single-family residence.

[TjoeMi]

Since you said it urself thats its not SFPRP, its not eligible for removal. You can only attempt to correct its location. If it fit into another cell with wayspot, it will disappear naturally.

But beware.attempting to move wayspot away from its correct location is subject to abuse ladder system