Hakaam Kareem, a five-time world record holder for earning PlayStation platinum trophies, has accused Sony of seizing and selling his account after an unexplained ban.
Kareem, who has been collecting platinum trophies for over 17 years, was banned without explanation in September. After persistent attempts to contact support, he finally received a response alleging numerous violations, including impossibly fast completion times, accessing thousands of accounts on his consoles, and using his account on 29 different consoles.
Kareem argued that some trophies could be earned instantly due to PS4 to PS5 upgrades and that he had used numerous consoles over 17 years, including those of friends. However, Sony reduced the ban to 45 days and removed him from their partner program, which provided free games.
A stranger contacted Kareem claiming his account details were sold to third parties by PlayStation employees, providing evidence in the form of a computer screen recording showing Kareem's information on a PlayStation employee's computer:
“Addresses and everything else. This is a violation of personal data security and evidence of corruption.”
Despite the strong evidence gathered by Hakoom that proves the involvement of individuals within PlayStation, Sony's response was definitive and unconvincing. The company attributed the ban to various technical violations, including automated trophy acquisition and excessive account usage. However, Hakoom and the wider gaming community refuted these claims, arguing that these practices are legal and acceptable within the PlayStation ecosystem.
English video of my retirement reason!
— Hakoom (@psnHakoom) November 15, 2024
Your datas are not safe!
any media who requires more information or a Q/A live
please email psnhakoom@gmail.com#playstation #hakoom #PS5Pro pic.twitter.com/Q9ktrESAKF
Dissatisfied with Sony's response and lack of accountability, Kareem believes the company is attempting to cover up the alleged sale of account data. He has vowed to stop using PlayStation and warned other gamers about the situation.
