Account verification: Only 1 account per person

Question

In my community, every user should only have one account.

So I need a solution to verify that the specific account is the only one the user owns

Answer 1

You should ask for something more unique than an email. But there is no way to be absolutly sure a player don't own two account.

The IP solution is not a solution, as people playing from a compagny/school/3G will have the same IP. Also, Changing IP is easy (reset the router, proxy, use your 3G vs wifi)

Some web site (job-offer, ...) ask you for an official ID number (ID, passport, social security, driver licence, visa (without the security number, so peolple will feel safe that you won't charge them), ...)

This solution got a few draw back:

• minor don't always have an ID / visa
• pepole don't like to give away this kind of info. (in fact, depending where you live: in spain for example, it is very common to ask for ID number)
• people own more than one visa.
• it is possible to generate valide ID/visa number.

Alternative way:

ask for a fee of 1$

• to be allow to trade more than X players / spend more than X money.
• people that pay the fee got some advantage : less ads, extra players, ...
• paying a fee, will limitate creation of multiple account.
• fee can be payed using taxed phone number (some compagny provide international system)
• the payment medium could be use as an ID (visa number)

put some restriction in new account (like SO).

• eg: "you have to play at least 1 hour before trading a player"
• eg: "you have to play at least 3 hour before trading more than 3 players"

Use logic to detect multiple account

• use cookie to detect multiple account
• check last connection time of both player before a transaction. (if player A logout 1 minute before player B login : somethings is going on)

My recommandation :

Use a mix of all thoses methode, but keep the user experience fluide without "form to fill now to continue"