The Punishment for Cheating in 'Pokémon Go' Is Harsh as F*ck

Kiss your sweet Pidgeys goodbye, cheaters! Pokémon Go players using unsavory means to catch 'em all will now be hit with a permanent ban. 

So no more GPS-spoofing your phone or downloading a hack tool from another site, or you may find that all of your swindled CP is dust in the wind. 

Niantic Labs updated the Pokémon Go terms of service to address gamers who aren't playing by the book, permanently terminating the accounts of users going against the new regulations. 

"This includes, but is not limited to: falsifying your location, using emulators, modified or unofficial software and/or accessing Pokémon GO clients or backends in an unauthorized manner including through the use of third party software," the ban appeal submission page says.

"Our goal is to provide a fair, fun and legitimate game experience for everyone," the page reads. "We will continue to work with all of you to improve the quality of the gameplay, including ongoing optimization and fine-tuning of our anti-cheat system. If you believe your account has been terminated in error incorrectly, you can appeal that termination through this form. For privacy reasons, please do not post appeals on social media." 

As the Verge notes, however, it's still unclear how Niantic Labs is spotting Pokémon Go cheaters — so hack at your own risk.