Valve introduces policy to protect Steam users from phishing scams

Valve has introduced a policy limiting Steam user accounts which have spent less than $5 on the digital distributor’s storefront.

Steam users who have only activated a retail game on Steam, played a demo, added a non-Steam game as a shortcut, added a free-to-play game, or received a game as a gift or via a trade will now be limited from accessing certain features.

The company states the new restrictions have been put in place to protect users from phishing scams and spam. Limited accounts will not be able to perform the following actions:

• Sending friend invites
• Opening group chat
• Voting on Greenlight, Steam Reviews and Workshop items
• Participating in the Steam Market
• Posting frequently in the Steam Discussions
• Gaining Steam Profile Levels (Locked to level 0) and Trading Cards
• Submitting content on the Steam Workshop
• Posting in an item’s Steam Workshop Discussions
• Accessing the Steam Web API
• Using browser and mobile chat

If a particular user hasn’t spent anything on the store, they at least have to carry a minimum of $5 in their Steam Wallet – which is effectively the same action, as putting any money on a Steam Wallet is like buying a digital gift card specifically for the store.

Purchases made in regions outside the US will be converted to USD using daily exchange rates” to determine whether or not an account is limited.