A compilation circulating among Chinese users claims that Claude scores the behavior of each user account and locks it when the score falls below a threshold.

For many Claude users, having their accounts locked often comes as a surprise. The accompanying explanation is also very little. Therefore, the community sought the answer on its own. Recently, a group of Chinese users said they had "decompiled" this mechanism from practical experience. However, it should be noted that the summary does not cite any statements from Anthropic.

According to the hypothesis shared by this community, each account receives an initial score when registering, then increases or decreases depending on usage behavior. When the score falls below a certain threshold, the account can be directly blocked. Recovering scores is expected to be difficult, while veteran accounts may enjoy greater flexibility.

Registration and payment process may affect scores

Among the factors mentioned by the community, IP address is considered one of the most important factors. An IP with a clean usage history is said to benefit the account, while constantly changing IPs, logging in multiple times, or using multiple devices can cause the score to plummet.

The way of registration is also said to have an influence. According to these shares, creating an account through a mobile application can bring advantages, but using Gmail is not necessarily the best choice. Accounts that are required to verify their identity upon registration are advised by some to reconsider, although there is no evidence that this is a sure sign of account lockout.

With paid accounts, the upgrade time is also questioned. The community believes that signing up for a paid plan immediately after creating an account can reduce points, while upgrading straight to the Max plan can subject the account to closer scrutiny. Some people advise waiting before registering, but this is still a shared experience, not an official Anthropic rule.

Payment method is also on the list of suspected factors. Bank cards issued by foreign organizations and payments through Google Play are considered more beneficial than virtual cards. However, being asked to verify your identity when making a payment does not mean your account will definitely be locked.

Claude's usage is also questionable

In addition to registration and payment, the community believes that frequency of use and access device can affect account security. Using up your limit at once, logging in on multiple devices simultaneously, or constantly changing IP are considered disadvantageous practices.

In contrast, desktop and mobile applications are said to offer a slight advantage over the web version. Some people also find that turning on the memo feature and saving multiple memory files can help increase scores. Account age is also considered a notable factor: accounts created from 2023 are said to have a higher level of stability than new accounts.

According to this hypothesis, when the score gets close to the dangerous threshold, the account can enter the monitoring phase. One sign mentioned by users is being logged out of the system. If you continue to engage in behavior that causes your score to decrease, your account may be locked. However, these signs have not been confirmed as Claude's actual operating mechanism.

Another theory: Claude Code can test tools on computers

However, the scoring system may not account for all account lock cases. One user said 14 accounts had been blocked for cybersecurity-related violations and offered another theory based on personal experience.

According to this person, when the system detects signs of violating terms of use related to network security, users may receive many warnings. If the behavior continues to trigger the audit process, Claude Code will scan the user folder details on the computer where Claude is installed. If hacking tools, exploit code, evidence of vulnerability exploitation, or tools for cyberattacks are detected, the account may be blocked. On the contrary, this person believes that computers that do not contain the above tools can pass the test.

This user confirmed that this was the reason his accounts were locked, and said that the scoring system mentioned by the Chinese community did not take into account the above testing process. However, this is still just a personal account; There has been no independent confirmation that Claude Code actually scans computer folders in the manner described.

Overall, the above shares show that users are looking for ways to explain why Claude's account may be locked in different situations. But while Anthropic has not publicly confirmed the scoring system or testing process described, these hypotheses should still be viewed with caution, rather than as official guidance on account moderation mechanisms.