Pokemon Go has created a major stir in the app world as soon as it was released. Partly because the world was waiting for something massive in mobile from Nintendo, and partly because nobody expected something as unique as Pokemon Go.

The app based on virtual reality has really taken off, allowing Nintendo to gross millions per day through in-app purchases.

But what Nintendo might not have foreseen is how Pokemon Go could be used in a negative way. Some people are using the app to lure others to certain dangerous areas. Other people are using the app in inappropriate places of spotting Pokemon where they should not be spotted. The latest bad way that some people are using Pokemon is to sell various Pokemon accounts on eBay.

The Value of a Pokemon Account

Some eBay sellers are selling loaded Pokemon accounts on eBay for thousands of dollars. These accounts promise to provide the winning bidder with everything that’s needed to win Pokemon battles. This is (according to Niantic) illegal to do, and anyone that’s caught buying or selling an account will have their account automatically shut down - but that’s not stopping some sellers.

Ebay used to be the place to go if you wanted to buy something rare or unusual or if you just needed something that you couldn’t find. Now, eBay is kind of a black market for oddities like Pokemon accounts. These new accounts are being built up by people that already know how to game the Pokemon system, and then the accounts are being sold to the highest bidder.

Enterprising Spirit

Even though Niantic has clearly stated that selling an account is against the terms of service (and all accounts that violate these terms will be banned), this hasn’t stopped some people from attempting to turn a profit from Pokemon. Days after the game was released, advertisements in New York City sprung up.

The fliers advertised professional Pokemon Go players for hire - at $20-$30 per hour. So if you really want to be the best at Pokemon Go but don’t have the time or just aren’t great at it, you can hire someone to do it for you. Other people are just putting hours and days into building the perfect Pokemon Go account and then selling these accounts for thousands of dollars on sites like eBay.

Just a Game

This is far from the first time that people have tried to profit from a game, but it is probably something Niantic did not think about when the game was created. It seems like everyday people are trying to cash in on this game, and you have to admire the entrepreneurial spirit of some of these people. Then again, if you want to be permanently banned from playing Pokemon Go, violating the rules is a really good way to do it.

As there will no doubt be more Pokemon Go news happening soon, make sure to return to this blog for more details about one of the hottest games to be released on mobile since Angry Birds.