Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

I got this email today, which said they flagged my account and would confiscate my money next time. I use Pokertracker and Playerview. Anyone else getting this email?

Dear Matt,

This message is to inform you that as part of our initiative to block artificial intelligence or prohibited software/programs that might give players an undue advantage over the other players on the table, we have proceeded to monitor and block the use of such software/programs from running in conjunction with our EmpirePoker.com client.

As a part of our Technical Team's continued efforts to render such applications and software/programs useless we have a security feature in place to detect the usage of the same. We would not be in a position to elaborate on this security measure for obvious reasons.

At the outset let me assure you that we do NOT take screen shots NOR do we have any screen shots of players' desktop with us, and no information that is recorded would ever be used by us without the players' consent. Further, please check our Terms and Conditions of Use available on our website. Please check Clause 6, Clause 7, Clause 17 and Clause 18 (viii).

http://www.empirepoker.com/about_us/...formation.html

We have proactively implemented security measures to identify and block PokerBot applications from running in conjunction with our poker software. As part of this initiative we have implemented technical changes that would ensure that any such applications and software/programs are identified, detected and rendered useless.

As per our policy, we have flagged your account and have added appropriate comments in your account. We will continue to monitor your account activity and game play, and request you to refrain from using this application in future, failing which we will have no choice but to take the extreme step of barring you from our card room and confiscating any funds remaining in your poker account.

Matt, we hope you understand our concerns in keeping up the fairness of our games and thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation in keeping up the spirit of the game and the integrity of our online poker card room.

Best Regards,
Olivia Cooper
Investigations Team
[email protected]

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Yowza.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

WOW, can anyone else confirm this?

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

So you were running a bot right?

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

wtf?

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

You should try to call Olivia Cooper because only she knows why she flagged your account. Then talk to her supervisor and ask him to instruct her. I'd call after getting such message.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

[ QUOTE ]
You should try to call Olivia Cooper because only she knows why she flagged your account. Then talk to her supervisor and ask him to instruct her. I'd call after getting such message.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, I'd be seriously concerned about this if i were you, and would talk to someone as high up in the company as possible as soon as possible.

Phone #s
 

Anyone know where to find any phone #s?

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

[ QUOTE ]
So you were running a bot right?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Wait, so were you running just poker tracker and playerview or a bot to?

wtf
 

I hope this is sarcasm, but no I wasnt running a bot.

Re: wtf
 

[ QUOTE ]
I hope this is sarcasm, but no I wasnt running a bot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I mean I guess I can't blame them for asking, but you would have to be pretty dumb to post this if you were actually running a bot.

Re: wtf
 

In that case--get them on the phone and find out what is going on and let us know.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Like just about everyone else here I run PT & PV but no bot. No letter for me ....yet.

Call them NOW!!! Please let us know what they say.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Assuming you weren't running a bot which I do given the tone of your post, I'd get them on the phone ASAP and clear this thing up. I'd try and find out as much as possible about what has occured to cause them to flag your account.

Please keep us updated.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Pfft...my bot is working fine with no silly letters.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

[ QUOTE ]

We would not be in a position to elaborate on this security measure for obvious reasons. ......

We have proactively implemented security measures to identify and block PokerBot applications from running in conjunction with our poker software. As part of this initiative we have implemented technical changes that would ensure that any such applications and software/programs are identified, detected and rendered useless.



[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm..."obviously" they cannot divulge it for security reasons, but...

They claim they can detect and render a bot useless.
They claim you are running a bot.
They SHOULD be able to render it useless, but instead they say that IF you are a bad boy and run it again, they will not render it useless, but rather block your account.

Sounds like a bluff on their part. They either suspect you because of complaints or your style of play etc, but have no hard proof. But they hold all the cards (ok...mixing poker metaphors sort of falls into a contradiction here).

Waiting to hear how it turns out.

Does anyone know a #?
 

I have looked for a phone # but havent found one? Thanks

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

That’s the whole email, right? They didn’t specifically name the program(s) that are their cause for concern?

Not an accusation – a question: Have you ever downloaded one of the bot programs that pop up here just to look at it and then uninstalled it? Most programs don’t actually uninstall completely, they leave traces.

Nope
 

I have never downloaded a bot. This may be because I am online all the time. I am a pro currently, and I stay logged in 24/7 datamining.

Re: Nope
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have never downloaded a bot. This may be because I am online all the time. I am a pro currently, and I stay logged in 24/7 datamining.

[/ QUOTE ]

This would probably be the cause.

They probably sent an intentionally vague e-mail, to trigger you to call them.

Being logged in 24/7 would definetly be a flag item.

Re: Nope
 

Being logged in 24/7 would definetly be a flag item.

i agree

it's ironic that he is logged on 24/7 because of pokertracker but it's because they think he's running a bot, not because he's running pokertracker, (which they wouldn't know), that they are concerned

party changed their whole hand history system to help pokertrackers because they were so fed up having to send hand histories out every hour or two - they are totally aware and accept that thousands of 'trackers are in operation, but the 24/7 activity is probably fairly rare

Re: Nope
 

I suspect a rethinking of the wisdom of showing mucked cards in “observed” hand histories will be up for discussion at their next staff meeting.

Re: Phone #s
 

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone know where to find any phone #s?

[/ QUOTE ]
Call 1-800-852-4719 and ask to be transferred to the investigations team.

Re: Phone #s
 

THanks, but thats a Party #, I would want to speak directly to Empire wouldnt I?

Re: Phone #s
 

[ QUOTE ]
THanks, but thats a Party #, I would want to speak directly to Empire wouldnt I?

[/ QUOTE ]
The investigations team is the same for both. It's only some of the customer service people that are different.

Re: Phone #s
 

Wow. Fast response Thanks

Just got this
 

Dear Matt,

Thank you for contacting us.

Matt, the previous message was just to bring to your notice
our policies with regards to usage of other Poker software in conjunction with the EmpirePoker.com software. THere is no hold on your account or any restriction placed and your account is still in good standing with us.All we wish to convey is that it has been noted that your running a poker software in conjunction with EmpirePoker.com and that this is something we discourage.

We apologise for any misunderstanding and incovenience caused.

Hope we have your understanding and cooperation in maintaining the Integrity and security of our site.


Contact us anytime, we are available around the clock to assist you with your account related questions and suggestions.


Sincerely,

Malcom Weeks,
Investigations Team
[email protected]

Re: Just got this
 

Obviously try to get them to divulge WHICH program it is they object to.

And what's the deal with all the anglocized names on the "investigations team" -- are they based somewhere OTHER than india and related countries?

Re: Just got this
 

This is really bizarre. Are they now actively discouraging people from using PT and PV?

Incidentally, I've been told that the part about them not taking screenshots is a lie. Their software has features that allows them to take screenshots of your desktop if they wish.

Re: Nope
 

Hear, hear.

"Abuse" like that stretches their policy of generosity and compliance with players' needs to the limit, imo.

Re: Just got this
 

[ QUOTE ]
Dear Matt,

Thank you for contacting us.

Matt, the previous message was just to bring to your notice
our policies with regards to usage of other Poker software in conjunction with the EmpirePoker.com software. THere is no hold on your account or any restriction placed and your account is still in good standing with us.All we wish to convey is that it has been noted that your running a poker software in conjunction with EmpirePoker.com and that this is something we discourage.

We apologise for any misunderstanding and incovenience caused.

Hope we have your understanding and cooperation in maintaining the Integrity and security of our site.


Contact us anytime, we are available around the clock to assist you with your account related questions and suggestions.


Sincerely,

Malcom Weeks,
Investigations Team
[email protected]

[/ QUOTE ]

My guess is that your 24 hour activity caused them to send an e-mail to see how you would react. Also probably to scare you if indeed you were doing something wrong.

Re: Just got this
 

[ QUOTE ]
Their software has features that allows them to take screenshots of your desktop if they wish.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can anyone elaborate on this point?

Re: Nope
 

[ QUOTE ]
This may be because I am online all the time. I am a pro currently, and I stay logged in 24/7 datamining.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think this explains it. This is a relief.

Re: Nope
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
This may be because I am online all the time. I am a pro currently, and I stay logged in 24/7 datamining.

[/ QUOTE ]
I think this explains it. This is a relief.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

Are you Beta testing that data-mining software?

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

No, but I'd like to be

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are you Beta testing that data-mining software?

[/ QUOTE ]

I am, and have been on 24/7 for 4 days, and no such threatening email yet, but this is making me think i should take periodic breaks.

Re: Anyone else get email from Empire about running a bot?
 

and so it begins.

AI is no longer just a rumor, and its use is confirmed by IGM.

Re: Just got this
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Their software has features that allows them to take screenshots of your desktop if they wish.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can anyone elaborate on this point?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, this is detailed on party/empire's website. Looks for a section on "Privacy". I believe the jist of it is:

1) They can scan your active processes
2) They can scan your party/empire file directories

If items 1 or 2 meet some "suspicious" criteria they can:

3) Take a screenshot

I'd recommend going to the website and reading it in detail incase my understanding of it is a bit off.