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Is It Safe to Buy League of Legends Accounts? A Comprehensive Guide

The short answer is: no, buying League of Legends (LoL) accounts is generally not safe, and comes with considerable risks. While the allure of a higher-ranked account or access to rare skins might be tempting, the practice directly violates Riot Games’ Terms of Service, putting both buyers and sellers at risk. This article will delve deep into the intricacies of buying LoL accounts, exploring the potential pitfalls and providing crucial information for anyone considering this route. You’ll learn why it’s risky, how to spot potential scams, and the safer alternatives available to enjoy the game.

The Risks of Buying League Accounts

The primary risk stems from the fact that account trading is explicitly prohibited by Riot Games. This is not a minor rule violation, and the consequences can be severe. Here are some of the key dangers involved:

Account Suspension or Ban: The most common consequence of buying an account is permanent suspension or a complete ban from the game. Riot Games actively monitors for account trading and employs various methods to detect these transactions. If caught, you will likely lose access to the account you purchased, rendering your investment worthless.
Scams and Fraud: The market for selling League accounts is rife with scams. Unscrupulous sellers might take your money and never deliver the account, provide an account that’s already banned, or reclaim the account after a sale. This leaves you out of pocket and with nothing to show for it.
Reclaimed Accounts: Even if the initial sale seems legitimate, the original owner can recover the account at any time through Riot Games’ account recovery system. This is a common tactic used by fraudulent sellers, leaving buyers with no recourse. You might spend a significant amount of money, only to have the account taken back by the original owner weeks or months later.
Malware and Security Risks: When purchasing from unofficial marketplaces, there’s a risk of downloading malware or providing your payment information to insecure websites. These websites might steal your personal data, such as credit card numbers, and lead to further financial issues.
Compromised Account Security: After purchase, you may find yourself struggling to secure the account fully because the original owner may have access to the email and other details used for recovery.

Why is Riot Games Against Account Trading?

Riot Games has legitimate reasons for banning account trading. These include:

Undermining Fair Play: Account trading disrupts the competitive balance of the game. Players with boosted accounts may be placed in matches they’re not skilled enough for, negatively impacting the gaming experience of others.
Community Integrity: Account trading can foster a toxic environment where players prioritize external gains over the genuine enjoyment of the game.
Account Security Risks: It’s hard to verify the safety and source of accounts sold online and this can introduce security vulnerabilities into the game and the gaming community.
Erosion of Account Ownership: Riot want to ensure each account is tied to an individual and not bought and sold like commodities.

The Temptation of Buying Accounts

Despite the risks, several reasons drive players to consider buying League accounts:

Skipping the Grinding: Leveling an account to level 30 can take a considerable amount of time. Buying a leveled account saves players the tedious task.
Accessing Higher Ranks: Players stuck in lower ranks often look for higher-ranked accounts to play in more challenging games and perhaps impress their friends.
Acquiring Rare Skins and Content: Some accounts have rare or legacy skins that are no longer available, making them highly desirable for collectors.

Safer Alternatives to Buying Accounts

While buying accounts carries significant risks, there are safer ways to achieve your goals in League of Legends:

Play and Improve: Focus on improving your own gameplay. This is the most authentic way to climb the ranks and enhance your skill.
Create a New Smurf Account: Riot Games allows players to have multiple accounts. If you want to play with friends in lower ranks, creating a new account is permitted, although it can potentially result in penalties if you disrupt the game’s fairness for other players.
Focus on Learning and Growth: Instead of trying to jump to a high rank, focus on learning and improving. This can be more rewarding in the long run.
Participate in Community Events: League of Legends often holds events where you can earn skins, champions, and other in-game content.

Key Takeaway: Avoid Buying LoL Accounts

Purchasing a League of Legends account is a dangerous gamble with the odds stacked against you. The chances of getting scammed, losing your investment, or being permanently banned are very high. Instead, focus on the legitimate and safer alternatives to enhance your League of Legends experience. Remember, the long-term reward of improving your skills and earning your rank legitimately far outweighs the temporary gratification of buying an account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it legal to buy League of Legends accounts?

While it’s not illegal in the sense of violating criminal law, buying and selling League of Legends accounts is a direct violation of Riot Games’ Terms of Service. This means that Riot can take action against any accounts involved in these transactions, such as suspending or permanently banning them.

2. What are the signs of a fake League of Legends account seller?

Look out for warning signs like: unusually low prices, requests for payment through untraceable methods, pressure to complete the transaction quickly, and sellers with no reputation or reviews. Always be skeptical of offers that seem “too good to be true.”

3. What if I get scammed after buying a League account?

Unfortunately, there is little to no recourse for victims of League account scams. Riot Games will not help you recover your money and instead, you may lose both the money you spent and access to the game itself. You might report the seller, but the chances of recovering your funds are slim.

4. How can Riot detect account trading?

Riot Games employs a variety of methods to detect account trading, including monitoring IP addresses, tracking gameplay patterns, and analyzing account ownership history. Their systems are continuously updated to catch suspicious activity, making it difficult to trade accounts undetected.

5. Is it safe to buy a League account from a known website?

Even websites that claim to be safe and reputable can pose risks. No website can guarantee that the purchased account won’t be banned or reclaimed. The inherent nature of account trading goes against the Terms of Service, regardless of the intermediary.

6. Can I get my banned account unbanned?

While you can appeal a ban to Riot Support, they rarely reverse account bans related to account trading. They view these violations seriously, and usually the ban will be upheld.

7. What is a “smurf” account in League of Legends?

A smurf account is an alternate account created by a player to play against less skilled opponents. While having multiple accounts is permitted by Riot, deliberately playing at a lower level to exploit weaker players is often frowned upon and may lead to punishments for main accounts.

8. How much does a League of Legends account cost?

The price of a League account varies greatly depending on the server, rank, level, number of skins, and other factors. You can find accounts priced from a few tens to hundreds of dollars. However, these costs mean nothing if the account is eventually banned.

9. Is it safe to sell a League of Legends account?

Selling a League account is just as risky as buying one. The same problems can arise like potential scams, account reclamation, and having the account banned. You also risk having your payment method blacklisted.

10. How long does it take to level a League account to 30?

It generally takes around 135 games to reach level 30. This can vary slightly based on game outcomes and bonus XP events. It does take time but is part of the process.

11. What is the alternative for wanting to play in higher ranks?

Instead of buying a higher-ranked account, the best thing is to practice, learn the game, and improve your skills over time. This will give a more rewarding sense of achievement.

12. Can I be punished for playing with a friend who bought their account?

While you won’t be directly punished for playing with a friend who bought their account, you are potentially endangering your own account because the boosted player will often bring the level of play down.

13. What is the difference between “smurfing” and account buying?

“Smurfing” refers to playing on an alternate account with the intention of playing against lower ranked opponents. Buying accounts is when someone transfers the ownership of the account and not just creates a new one. Both are potentially bad for the gaming environment.

14. What to do if my League of Legends account gets stolen?

If your League account is stolen, immediately contact Riot Support through their Account Recovery Tool. It requires you to provide various details about the account and you may need to submit a ticket. This is the fastest way to get your account back.

15. Is it okay to have more than one League account?

Yes, Riot allows players to have multiple accounts. While this is permitted, it does not permit smurfing. There’s a difference between owning multiple accounts and using them to abuse the system.

Is it safe to buy League accounts?