How to Buy an MMO Account Safely

Last reviewed September 2026 · How we research · See our vendor reviews and game pages for scored sellers.

Publishers Prohibit Account Sales

Buying an account is different from buying currency, because you are taking over the seller’s access to someone else’s license. Publishers we checked say so plainly. Wargaming’s official page states that selling World of Tanks accounts is against the EULA and game rules and leads to punishment and bans. EA’s Terms of Service, as quoted by an EA community manager, forbid selling, buying, trading or transferring an EA account, or EA content tied to it including virtual currency, unless EA expressly authorizes it. Jagex’s rules for Old School RuneScape define real-world trading as covering anything related to a Jagex account and say the account is owned by Jagex. Blizzard’s announcement on selling in-game property lists characters alongside coins and items and says Blizzard, not the seller, owns them.

The details differ from game to game, so read the current terms for the title you are buying into.

Why Account Purchases Can Be Reversed

Wargaming explains three ways a buyer loses out: the payment is outside the game so nobody can force a refund; the seller keeps a route back in, for example through password recovery on the original email; and the seller can claim the account was hacked and prove they were the original owner. Jagex makes a similar point about real-world traders, saying the goods they sell are often stolen, so a purchased account can be returned to its rightful owner and leave you out of pocket. Guild Wars 2’s policy page adds that gold sellers commonly work through hacked accounts and stolen card details.

If it happens to you, here's what to do when a bought account is taken back.

Vet the Seller or Marketplace

Check how long the seller has operated, recent independent reviews, and how disputes and failed orders are handled. Our vendor reviews show scored sellers, and the seller evaluation checklist lists what to look for.

Handover and Security

A real account handover means transferring the email, recovery details and any linked authenticators, not only a password. Ask how the seller will remove their own recovery options, and change the email, password and two-factor authentication yourself as soon as you have access. Never accept an account where the original email stays under the seller’s control.

Use a payment method that offers dispute rights, keep the invoice, order number and chat log, and never move to a private chat or an irreversible payment because a seller asks. Do not file a chargeback after you have received what you paid for — reversed payments are a common way sellers lose money and a common reason delivered currency gets flagged later.

Red Flags to Avoid

Prices far below similar listings (Wargaming notes sellers never discount out of generosity); sellers who insist on keeping the original email; requests to pay outside the marketplace or by an untraceable method; accounts with no proof of ownership or history; unsolicited offers in chat or Discord; and look-alike domains.

Step-by-Step Checklist

Read the publisher’s current terms on account sales and decide whether you accept a ban risk.
Check the seller’s history on independent sites and read the marketplace’s dispute terms.
Confirm exactly what is transferred: email, recovery details, authenticators and any linked platform accounts.
Pay through a method with dispute rights and keep every record.
On receipt, change the email, password and two-factor authentication immediately.
Keep evidence of the purchase in case the original owner files a recovery claim.

Lower-Risk Alternatives

Starting fresh, buying the game or content yourself, or using publisher-supported routes avoids account risk entirely. If you want progress rather than an identity, compare with our accounts vs gold guide, and see our refunds and disputes guide before paying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is buying an MMO account allowed?

Publishers we checked prohibit it. Wargaming says account selling is against its EULA, and EA’s terms forbid transferring accounts or associated content unless authorized.

Can the original owner take the account back?

Wargaming warns that sellers can keep a way back in through recovery options or a hacked-account claim, and the buyer may not get a refund.

What should I do first after buying an account?

Change the email, password and two-factor authentication immediately, and keep purchase records.