Banned from FaceBook - What do I do now?

[SandyDuPlessis]

I need some advice on how to proceed please.

On October 20 I received the following mail from FaceBook:

Kianawi sent you a message.

Re: [NOT SPAM !] You have been detected doing illegal chips transfer in our system!

"no, i dont do illegal chips transfer, your system maybe wrong, recheck to your system please."

I checked to see if I could get into FaceBook via my own link (not the link in the email) only to receive the following notification:

Account Disabled

Your account has been disabled. If you have any questions or concerns, you can visit our FAQ page here.

Since I hadn't a clue what they were talking about, I sent the following mail:

I have just received a mail (see below). I think there has been some kind of error - I don't know what "chips" are, let alone doing an illegal transfer of them. Also the quote below seems to show that I apparently responded to some kind of notification related to these illegal chips. Whoever it was, it most definitely was not me.

Please advise. I am very confused.

I did include my log-in email address and my date of birth. I received an automated response saying they would get back to me, needless to say, the didn't. After about 10 days, I sent them another email as follows:

I am just following up on my previous response to your mail re "illegal chips transfer" of 10 days ago (see below).

A friend mentioned that Facebook apparently has a gambling section and the "chips" may be related to this. I do not gamble and am not a member of your gambling club. Also I notice that the comment you refer to... "no, i dont do illegal chips transfer, your system maybe wrong, recheck to your system please"... has been written in very poor english indicating that the quoted text was probably written by a non english speaking person.

After discussion with several internet marketing acquaintances, I now believe that it is possible that my facebook account was hacked, though how it could have happened I have no idea. Alternatively, my facebook account has somehow been confused with that of someone else.

Please be kind enough to re-instate my account along with a new password.

I appreciate your assistance in this matter

Needless to say, I did not even get an automated response to my second mail. I did include all previous mails.

In total, more than a month has now gone past. What do I do now?

Thanks

Sandy

[John Rogers]

If you don't know what they're talking about, maybe someone hacked into your account? After searching Google it appears that it might have something to do with Texas Hold 'Em.

John

[SandyDuPlessis]

Sorry to be dim, but what is Texas Hold Em? and how do I persuade Facebook to lift the ban?

[John Rogers]

Texas Hold Em is a game on Facebook. There's a bunch of stuff on Google about hacking the game and illegal chip transfers. I can't help you with Facebook. I couldn't even find a way to contact them by phone.

John

[josspam]

let facebook now about this.... if you've been hacked you can have your account back.

Jocy

[SandyDuPlessis]

@John

Thanks for that info - at least I have a better idea of what might be going on.

@Jocy

I have let them know, but they don't respond

thanks

Sandy

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Have you tried tweeting them?

Facebook (facebook) on Twitter

[SandyDuPlessis]

Thanks for that idea Dan,

I have just tried tweeting them. Maybe someone will respond. I hope so.

Sandy

[KenThompson]

Hi Sandy,

Sorry to hear about your troubles with this.

Do a whois or betterwhois dot com search for
facebook. It's very easy.

I just looked, and there's a physical address and
phone/fax number as well as email contact info.

I'm sure you can get someone's attention.

Good luck and do keep us posted about this, if
you don't mind.

Thanks.

[SandyDuPlessis]

Thanks Ken,

I will follow that bit of advice ans see what happens. Unfortunately I am going to be off-line for the next 24 hours (have a plane to catch) but will post an update as soon as I can.

Sandy

[Michael Mayo]

Hi Sandy,

What a bummer they have done this to you.
I'm sure you'll get your account reactivated soon.

I did some digging and came up with this email address to the appeals
appeals-comment <at> facebook.com

Send them your side of the story.
If they bring up the fact that you log in from time to time from different IP
addresses then just explain to them that you travel from point A to point B
from time to time.

I also did a Google search for "reinstate facebook account" with out the
quotes. You may locate how some one else was able to contact them and
get their account reactivated.
Google

I'll keep looking for answers and get back with you in the WDIC.

Have a Safe Trip. Talk with you soon.

Michael

[Bellamy]

Why not just sign up again with a new account and fresh credit card?

[valerieSONORA]

You can always create a new account if they won't respond to you. Sounds like you were definitely hacked. There are a lot of hackers around. Their customer service sounds like yahoos. Which sucks.

[baybossplaya]

some people buy and sell "poker chips" for the texas holdem game on facebook. dont know what for though...

[acrasial]

Hello Sandy,

I know someone who works for facebook out of America, and deals with the management of profiles directly (deleting and fixing errors). I can ask them to look at yours and reinstate that for you.


Regards,

[SandyDuPlessis]

Hi All,

I guess following everybody's tips has helped. I arrived back in South Africa last night and have finally managed to sneak away from everyone and get my internet "fix".

Facebook has sent sent a mail to say sorry for the error and I am now unbanned.

Many thanks for all your support and advice.

Sandy