New Steam policy restricts accounts to protect users from phishing scams and spam

Valve has implemented a new policy on Steam that limits user accounts which have spent less than $5 through the store.

The new policy is to protect users from phishing scams and spam.

If the user hasn't spent anything on the store, they'll need to at least have $5 sitting in their Steam Wallet. This will limit accounts from performing 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

The restrictions noted above will not be lifted unless money has been spent or the Steam Wallet has the minimum required funds.

So, if you activate a retail game on Steam, have played a demo, added a non-Steam game as a shortcut, add a free-to-play game, or received a game as a gift or through Steam trading, the account will still be limited.

If the region of the Steam store used isn't in US dollars, it will be tracked in USD by converting each purchase total made "using daily exchange rates."

Basically, if you are a Steam user and you have purchased content through the service or have a $5 balance, you are safe.

Thanks, Gamasutra.